A method of operating an automated storage and retrieval
system includes: a rail
system including a first set of parallel rails arranged in a horizontal plane and extending in a first direction, and a second set of parallel rails arranged in the horizontal plane and extending in a second direction which is orthogonal to the first direction, which first and second sets of rails form a
grid pattern in the horizontal plane including a plurality of adjacent grid cells, a central
control unit configured to receive, transmit and process data signals of a plurality of container handling vehicles for handling storage containers of the automated storage and retrieval
system. Each container handling vehicle includes a vehicle body, a wheel
assembly provided on the vehicle body, the wheel
assembly being configured to move the vehicle along the rail system in both of the first direction and the second direction, a
vehicle control unit configured to receive data signals from, transmit data signals to and process data signals of the central
control unit, and a
proximity sensor system configured to detect another container handling vehicle of said plurality of container handling vehicles and determine whether or not it is within a predetermined distance. The method includes detecting with the central
control unit that access of a first container handling vehicle to a target
cell, which is one of the plurality of grid cells, is blocked by a second container handling vehicle, transmitting a
data signal from the central control unit to the
vehicle control unit of the first container handling vehicle commanding the first container handling vehicle to move into the target
cell when the second container handling vehicle is beyond said predetermined distance.