A system to provide additional functionality to robots in automated warehouse systems is disclosed. The system can include a number of additional components that can be attached to existing components of the warehouse system to improve safety, functionality, and decrease costs. The system can provide modular tools to enable robots to perform additional tasks without having equipment permanently installed on the robots. The bases or shelves for the automated warehouse system can be equipped with robotic arms, lights, cameras, sensors, actuators and other components to enable a robot to utilize a particular tool for a particular job. The robot and the bases or shelving units can also comprise complementary electronic connections to provide power and/or data communications between the robot, the bases or shelving units, and/or a management module.