US Patent 10919698 Robotic cargo handling system and method

A robotic cargo handling system and method provides an interchange for moving shipping containers and semi-trailers between trains, between train and road vehicles and between road vehicles. The interchange includes a structure located above a series of railway tracks forming part of a rail network and a series of roads forming part of a road network. Tracks supported by the structure form a grid-like pattern above the transport network tracks and roads. Robotic load handlers operable on the tracks or rails of the grid structure pick up containers from beneath the structure and move the containers to alternative locations-by moving the containers between vehicles located beneath the structure.