A system and method for automated goods storage and retrieval

Abstract

A system and method for automated storage and retrieval that employs a two-dimensional, vertically oriented storage with storage areas arranged in a grid along a horizontal axis, a lift for access to one or more floors of the storage, and a vehicle transfer area for transfer of vehicles between an exterior transit way and the lift. Unique identification data is assigned to each vehicle upon access to the vehicle transfer area. Next, horological data is acquired corresponding to the identification data. Frequency data is calculated based on the identification data and the horological data, corresponding to the frequency of vehicle ingress and egress. The frequency data is stored in association with the identification data for later use. The vehicle is then transported to a storage area based on the frequency data, with vehicles having a higher frequency of ingress and egress stored in close proximity to the vehicle transfer area.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] Automated mechanical parking garage systems have been employed since the late 1950's. Early automated parking garages used crane systems, conveyors, hydraulics and pneumatics to transport and store vehicles within a parking structure. Recently, more advanced systems have been developed which include computer-controlled, specialized equipment for carrying vehicles to assigned parking spaces in much the same way that computerized assembly lines or warehouses store and retrieve miscellaneous goods. [0002] Since the early 1980's, many computer-based systems have employed a graphical user interface (GUI) to present information to and receive input from a user or operator. In many cases, such a GUI is little more than an alternative expression of a traditional interface. For example, certain operating systems employ the GUI to collect and display substantially the same information as traditional text-based operating systems (where a GUI is defined as any...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0019] In another embodiment of the subject application, the communications means are capable of communicating position information with each vehicle, thereby generating customized routing from each associated vehicle to a transfer area.

Problems solved by technology

Moreover, there are no user interfaces, graphical or otherwise, which present the status of the components in an automated parking and storage system in an intuitive and unambiguous way suitable for a novice operator.

Unfortunately, these drivers are required to locate a parking location on each entrance into the parking facility, resulting in a parking location that is progressively further from the entrance / exit than the driver's previous parking location.

This problem is compounded in an automated facility, wherein the cars are loaded in a first come / first served manner.

Reserved parking has been used in common parking garages, but this method has several drawbacks, most commonly the parking space reserved for the driver being taken by another automobile.

This forces the reserve patron to locate another parking location, which gives rise to the aforementioned problems.

Searching for a parking garage in a busy city typically frustrates the business commuter, visitor, or tourist.

In addition, once a parking garage is located, the driver must then contend with parking facilities that may or may not be able to accommodate his vehicle.

Also, the parking may be full, requiring the driver to locate an alternate parking facility, wasting time and energy that would better be spent elsewhere.

In an automated parking facility, the driver is typically not able to access his vehicle once the vehicle has been moved to its parking location.

Images