A method of conveying articles on a robotic material handling system, the method comprising: receiving one or more articles (12a, 12b) on a front portion of a conveyor system of the robotic material handling system, wherein at least a portion (2302A', 2302E') of the front portion is configured to expand to a first configuration and retract to a second configuration; activating at least one of a plurality of zones (A, B, C, D, E) on the front portion to convey the one or more articles (12a, 12b) in a first direction towards a rearward conveyor; the method being characterized by: detecting one or more jammed articles (12a, 12b) on the front portion; in response to detecting the one or more jammed articles (12a, 12b), expanding the front portion to the first configuration; and dislodging the one or more jammed articles (12a, 12b) by causing one or more of: separating the one or more jammed articles (12a, 12b) by activating one or more of the plurality of zones (A, B, C, D, E) under the one or more jammed articles (12a, 12b), or activating one or more of the plurality of zones (A, B, C, D, E) under the one or more jammed articles (12a, 12b) in a second direction opposite to the first direction. receiving one or more articles (12a, 12b) on a front portion of a conveyor system of the robotic material handling system, wherein at least a portion (2302A', 2302E') of the front portion is configured to expand to a first configuration and retract to a second configuration; activating at least one of a plurality of zones (A, B, C, D, E) on the front portion to convey the one or more articles (12a, 12b) in a first direction towards a rearward conveyor; the method being characterized by: detecting one or more jammed articles (12a, 12b) on the front portion; in response to detecting the one or more jammed articles (12a, 12b), expanding the front portion to the first configuration; and dislodging the one or more jammed articles (12a, 12b) by causing one or more of: separating the one or more jammed articles (12a, 12b) by activating one or more of the plurality of zones (A, B, C, D, E) under the one or more jammed articles (12a, 12b), or activating one or more of the plurality of zones (A, B, C, D, E) under the one or more jammed articles (12a, 12b) in a second direction opposite to the first direction. detecting one or more jammed articles (12a, 12b) on the front portion; in response to detecting the one or more jammed articles (12a, 12b), expanding the front portion to the first configuration; and dislodging the one or more jammed articles (12a, 12b) by causing one or more of: separating the one or more jammed articles (12a, 12b) by activating one or more of the plurality of zones (A, B, C, D, E) under the one or more jammed articles (12a, 12b), or activating one or more of the plurality of zones (A, B, C, D, E) under the one or more jammed articles (12a, 12b) in a second direction opposite to the first direction. separating the one or more jammed articles (12a, 12b) by activating one or more of the plurality of zones (A, B, C, D, E) under the one or more jammed articles (12a, 12b), or activating one or more of the plurality of zones (A, B, C, D, E) under the one or more jammed articles (12a, 12b) in a second direction opposite to the first direction.