Decrease the Width of the "Roof" of the Vector Fixed Shelf to Increase "Window Fit" Picking Space

When we are picking larger items to the Vector with a fixed shelf, we are confined to the current footprint at this moment 32.24" L x 24.09" W x ~18" H.

With larger items that could be turned on any of their axis, it is possible that increasing the available height within the Vector's cube, we could fit more product.

If we were to decrease the width of the top shelf, the shelf that is not used for product, we would have more 'window fit' to place items onto the shelf or into a tote.

If you have 18" of vertical clearance on the shelf and an 8" tall tote, you have 10" of vertical clearance. However, if the top shelf that sits above the last usable shelf, had a smaller width, so that it would look more like a top bar connecting both sides of the Vector bot, then we would increase our 'window fit' and be able to pack larger items into the tote without having to pull the tote out.

If we were able to increase the window fit space on the top shelf, it is also possible that we could raise the bottom shelf and provide a larger window fit on that shelf as well.

This would be most applicable for the two-level shelf configuration of the fixed shelf option for Vector.

This request came up in a Sam's Club design meeting. We are planning on the design for the CMH site which currently is modeled for 69 Vector robots and 5 additional E-club sites with about 25 Vector robots.

Large cubic volume items being picked at Sam's Club would require an associate to pull the tote out of the shelf while handling a heavy item to then shimmy the item in and the tote back onto the shelf.

Or, even worse, they may have to take the tote completely off of the bot, put it on the floor, put the item in the tote, then put the tote back onto the bot.