Patent ID: 7344037

Claim:
A method for managing an inventory comprising: providing a database storing item identification information for a plurality of respective items and three dimensional storage location for each of the respective items; transmitting the storage location information and the item identification information to a vehicle having a lifting mechanism operable to selectively handle at least one of the items; determining a desired position and orientation of the vehicle to provide access to the storage location; detecting a present ground position of the vehicle; detecting an orientation of the vehicle; comparing the present ground position and orientation information to the desired ground position and orientation information; automatically steering the vehicle along a desired land travel path that can include at least one curved portion so that the present position and orientation matches the desired ground position and orientation information; detecting a vertical position of the lifting mechanism; moving the lifting mechanism of the vehicle to a vertical coordinate and horizontal coordinates associated with the storage location; and updating the database to reflect changes to the item identification information and location information to reflect retrieval or deposit of an item from the storage location.