Patent ID: 7402018

Claim:
A system for transporting inventory, comprising: an inventory holder, the inventory holder comprising: a frame operable to store inventory items; a docking plate operable to receive a docking head from underneath; and a braking mechanism operable to disable movement of the inventory holder when the inventory holder is not docked; and a mobile drive unit, comprising: a docking head operable to: couple to the docking plate when the mobile drive unit is positioned beneath the inventory holder and the docking head is raised to the docking plate; disengage the braking mechanism when the mobile drive unit is docked with the inventory holder; and decouple from the docking plate when the docking head is lowered; and a drive module operable to propel the mobile drive unit; and wherein the mobile drive unit is operable to move the inventory holder when the docking head is coupled to the inventory holder.