What technology controlled the storage and retrieval machine at the 1962 Bertelsmann warehouse installation?

Answer

punch-card technology

The very first operational AS/RS system, installed in 1962 at the Bertelsmann book-club warehouse in Gütersloh, Germany, featured a storage and retrieval machine (SRM) that, despite being a major advancement, was controlled manually from an attached cabin but incorporated basic automation via punch-card technology. This method relied on physical cards containing instructions to guide the machine's actions for storage and retrieval. This primitive form of programming preceded the widespread use of integrated computer control, demonstrating the early stages of automation where physical media was necessary to interface control commands with the mechanical operation of the moving mast and lifting devices. The reliance on punch cards highlights how rudimentary the early digital interface was compared to modern software-driven execution systems.

What technology controlled the storage and retrieval machine at the 1962 Bertelsmann warehouse installation?

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