Cargo picking method and system

Abstract

The embodiment of the present invention discloses a cargo picking method and system, which relates to the field of computer technology. The method includes: a workstation dispatches multiple cargo picking tasks to multiple robots; multiple robots execute the multiple cargo picking tasks; an equipment management system monitors the equipment status of the multiple robots throughout the process, and determines different cargo picking schemes with manual participation according to the abnormal fault duration of the equipment status of the robots. According to the cargo picking method of the embodiment of the present invention, the equipment management system monitors the equipment status of the multiple robots throughout the process, and determines different cargo picking schemes with manual participation according to the abnormal fault duration of the equipment status of the robots. Thereby, the staff promptly repairs the fault and enables the cargo picking scheme with manual participation, which optimizes the robot cargo picking process and improves the cargo picking efficiency and cargo outbound efficiency.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of computer technology, and in particular to a cargo picking method and system. Background Art

[0002] With the rapid development of e-commerce and other fields, the requirements for cargo sorting efficiency in logistics warehouses are getting higher and higher. For some medium-sized goods, manual picking is very labor-intensive and the efficiency of cargo picking is low. Therefore, the method of using robots to pick goods has emerged.

[0003] In the prior art, when picking unfinished goods, after the robot carries the pallet to the workstation, it scans the corresponding goods through the visual device, drives the robot to grab the corresponding goods, and performs the picking operation. The existing robot technology has certain limitations and the uncontrollability of the equipment. The robot often fails when performing the task of picking goods. When the robot cannot pick the goods due to an abnormal failure, it is impossible to notify the human to repair the failure in time. Moreover, even if the robot fails manually, it takes a certain amount of time to repair and troubleshoot the problem.

[0004] In summary, the inventors have found that the above-mentioned cargo picking method has the following deficiencies:

[0005] When the robot is unable to pick goods due to an abnormal fault, it is impossible to notify the staff in time to repair the fault, which prolongs the goods picking time, which reduces the efficiency of goods picking and goods outbound.

[0006] Even if the staff finds the robot abnormal failure in time, it will take some time to repair and troubleshoot the problem. During the period of robot abnormal failure, the cargo picking task cannot be processed in time, resulting in a backlog of cargo picking tasks, which further reduces the efficiency of cargo picking and cargo outbound. Summary of the invention

[0007] In view of this, an embodiment of the present invention provides a cargo picking method and system, wherein, when the robot's device status is abnormal and cannot perform the cargo picking task, manual picking replaces the robot to complete the cargo picking task, so as to improve the cargo picking efficiency.

[0008] According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a cargo picking method, comprising: a workstation dispatching multiple cargo picking tasks to multiple robots; multiple robots executing the multiple cargo picking tasks; an equipment management system monitoring the equipment status of the multiple robots throughout the entire process, and determining different cargo picking schemes involving manual participation according to the abnormal fault duration of the equipment status of the robots.

[0009] Preferably, before the multiple robots execute the multiple cargo picking tasks, the method further includes: an equipment management system monitoring whether the equipment status of the multiple robots is normal.

[0010] Preferably, if the equipment status of the multiple robots is abnormal, the multiple robots notify the workstation to complete the multiple cargo picking tasks by manual picking; and when the equipment status of the multiple robots returns to normal, the multiple robots notify the workstation to re-assign the cargo picking tasks.

[0011] Preferably, if the equipment status of the multiple robots is normal, the multiple robots perform the multiple cargo picking tasks.

[0012] Preferably, the equipment management system monitors whether the multiple robots perform the multiple cargo picking tasks normally.

[0013] Preferably, if the multiple robots perform the multiple cargo picking tasks normally, the multiple robots transmit the picking results of the multiple cargo picking tasks back to the workstation.

[0014] Preferably, if the multiple robots fail to perform the multiple cargo picking tasks normally, the multiple robots report to the equipment management system and suspend the multiple cargo picking tasks; the equipment management system marks the multiple robots as short-term abnormal equipment status and notifies the staff for maintenance through a sound alarm.

[0015] Preferably, if the short-term abnormal equipment status of the multiple robots is quickly repaired, the staff manually restores the short-term abnormal equipment status of the multiple robots in the equipment management system.

[0016] Preferably, the equipment management system notifies the plurality of robots that the short-term abnormal equipment state has been restored; and the plurality of robots continue to execute the plurality of suspended cargo picking tasks.

[0017] Preferably, if the short-term abnormal equipment status of the multiple robots cannot be quickly repaired, the staff manually upgrades the short-term abnormal equipment status of the multiple robots to a long-term abnormal equipment status in the equipment management system.

[0018] Preferably, the equipment management system notifies the multiple robots to delete the multiple uncompleted cargo picking tasks.

[0019] Preferably, the multiple robots notify the workstation that the multiple unexecuted cargo picking tasks are completed by manual picking.

[0020] Preferably, the plurality of robots in the long-term abnormal equipment state refuse to accept new cargo picking tasks.

[0021] Preferably, the plurality of cargo picking tasks that the plurality of robots in the long-term abnormal equipment state have received are completed by manual picking.

[0022] Preferably, after the long-term abnormal equipment status of the multiple robots returns to normal, a staff member manually restores the long-term abnormal equipment status of the multiple robots in the equipment management system.

[0023] Preferably, the equipment management system notifies the multiple robots to allow receiving new cargo picking tasks; and the multiple robots notify the workstation to dispatch new cargo picking tasks, and the multiple robots execute the new cargo picking tasks.

[0024] Preferably, before the step of the workstation dispatching multiple cargo picking tasks to multiple robots, it also includes: the workstation monitoring whether the multiple robots are allowed to receive new cargo picking tasks; and if the multiple robots are allowed to receive new cargo picking tasks, the workstation dispatches the multiple cargo picking tasks to the multiple robots.

[0025] According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a cargo picking system, comprising: a workstation for dispatching a plurality of cargo picking tasks to a plurality of robots; a plurality of robots for respectively executing the plurality of cargo picking tasks; an equipment management system for monitoring the equipment status of the plurality of robots throughout the entire process, and determining different cargo picking schemes involving manual participation according to the abnormal fault duration of the equipment status of the robots.

[0026] According to another aspect of the present invention, a computer-readable storage medium is provided, wherein the computer-readable storage medium stores computer instructions, and when the computer instructions are executed, the cargo picking method as described above is implemented.

[0027] The present invention has the following advantages or beneficial effects: the equipment management system monitors the equipment status of the multiple robots throughout the process, and determines different cargo picking schemes with human participation according to the abnormal fault duration of the equipment status of the robots. Thus, the staff can promptly inspect the fault and enable the cargo picking scheme with human participation, thus optimizing the robot cargo picking process and improving the cargo picking efficiency and cargo outbound efficiency.

[0028] The present invention has the following advantages or beneficial effects: when the robot's equipment status is abnormal and cannot perform the cargo picking task, manual picking replaces the robot to complete the cargo picking task, which further reduces the cargo picking efficiency and cargo outbound efficiency. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0029] The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent through the following description of the embodiments of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0030] Figure 1 A schematic flow chart showing a method for picking goods according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0031] Figure 2 A schematic flow chart showing a method for picking goods according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0032] Figure 3 A schematic structural diagram of a cargo picking system according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0033] The present invention is described below based on embodiments, but the present invention is not limited to these embodiments. In the detailed description of the present invention below, some specific details are described in detail. It is possible for a person skilled in the art to fully understand the present invention without the description of these details. In order to avoid confusing the essence of the present invention, known methods, processes, and procedures are not described in detail. In addition, the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale.

[0034] Figure 1 The flowchart of a method for picking goods according to an embodiment of the present invention specifically includes the following steps:

[0035] In step S101 , a workstation dispatches a plurality of cargo picking tasks to a plurality of robots.

[0036] In step S102, a plurality of robots respectively perform the plurality of cargo picking tasks.

[0037] In step S103, the equipment management system monitors the equipment status of the multiple robots throughout the entire process, and determines different cargo picking schemes involving manual participation according to the abnormal failure duration of the equipment status of the robots.

[0038] In one embodiment of the present invention, first, a workstation assigns multiple cargo picking tasks to multiple robots. Then, the multiple robots perform the multiple cargo picking tasks respectively. Finally, the equipment management system monitors the equipment status of the multiple robots throughout the process, and determines different cargo picking schemes involving manual participation according to the abnormal fault duration of the equipment status of the robots.

[0039] According to the embodiment of the present invention, the equipment management system monitors the equipment status of the multiple robots throughout the process, and determines different cargo picking solutions with human participation according to the abnormal fault duration of the equipment status of the robots. Thus, the staff can promptly repair the fault and enable the cargo picking solution with human participation, thus optimizing the robot cargo picking process and improving the cargo picking efficiency and cargo outbound efficiency.

[0040] Figure 2The flowchart of the cargo picking method according to an embodiment of the present invention includes the following steps:

[0041] In step S201, the workstation monitors whether the multiple robots are allowed to receive new cargo picking tasks; if the multiple robots are allowed to receive new cargo picking tasks, S202 is executed.

[0042] In step S202 , the workstation dispatches a plurality of cargo picking tasks to a plurality of robots.

[0043] In step S203, the equipment management system monitors whether the equipment status of the multiple robots is normal; if the equipment status of the multiple robots is abnormal, S204 is executed; if the equipment status of the multiple robots is normal, S206 is executed.

[0044] In step S204, the multiple robots notify the workstation that the multiple cargo picking tasks are completed by manual picking.

[0045] In step S205, after the device states of the multiple robots return to normal, the multiple robots notify the workstation to re-assign the cargo picking tasks.

[0046] In step S206, the multiple robots perform the multiple cargo picking tasks.

[0047] In step S207, the equipment management system monitors whether the multiple robots perform the multiple cargo picking tasks normally; if the multiple robots perform the multiple cargo picking tasks normally, execute S208; if the multiple robots do not perform the multiple cargo picking tasks normally, execute S209.

[0048] In step S208 , the plurality of robots transmit the picking results of the plurality of cargo picking tasks back to the workstation.

[0049] In step S209, the multiple robots report to the equipment management system and suspend the multiple cargo picking tasks.

[0050] In step S210, the equipment management system marks the multiple robots as short-term abnormal equipment states, and notifies the staff for maintenance through a sound alarm; if the short-term abnormal equipment states of the multiple robots are quickly repaired, S211 is executed; if the short-term abnormal equipment states of the multiple robots cannot be quickly repaired, S213 is executed.

[0051] In step S211, a staff member manually restores the short-term abnormal equipment status of the multiple robots in the equipment management system; the equipment management system notifies the multiple robots that the short-term abnormal equipment status has been restored.

[0052] In step S212, the multiple robots continue to execute the multiple suspended cargo picking tasks.

[0053] In step S213, the staff manually upgrades the short-term abnormal equipment status of the multiple robots to a long-term abnormal equipment status in the equipment management system; the equipment management system notifies the multiple robots to delete the multiple unfinished cargo picking tasks.

[0054] In step S214, the multiple robots notify the workstation that the multiple unfinished cargo picking tasks are completed by manual picking.

[0055] In step S215, after the long-term abnormal equipment status of the multiple robots returns to normal, the staff manually restores the long-term abnormal equipment status of the multiple robots in the equipment management system; the equipment management system notifies the multiple robots to allow receiving new cargo picking tasks.

[0056] In step S216, the multiple robots notify the workstation to assign a new cargo picking task, and return to execute S206.

[0057] In one embodiment of the present invention, the workstation monitors whether the multiple robots are allowed to receive new cargo picking tasks; if the multiple robots are allowed to receive new cargo picking tasks, the workstation dispatches multiple cargo picking tasks to the multiple robots. The equipment management system monitors whether the equipment status of the multiple robots is normal; if the equipment status of the multiple robots is abnormal, the multiple robots notify the workstation that the multiple cargo picking tasks are completed by manual picking; when the equipment status of the multiple robots returns to normal, the multiple robots notify the workstation to re-dispatch the cargo picking tasks. If the equipment status of the multiple robots is normal, the multiple robots perform the multiple cargo picking tasks. The equipment management system monitors whether the multiple robots perform the multiple cargo picking tasks normally; if the multiple robots perform the multiple cargo picking tasks normally, the multiple robots return the picking results of the multiple cargo picking tasks to the workstation. If the multiple robots do not perform the multiple cargo picking tasks normally, the multiple robots report to the equipment management system and suspend the multiple cargo picking tasks. The equipment management system marks the multiple robots as short-term abnormal equipment states, and notifies the staff to perform maintenance through a sound alarm; if the short-term abnormal equipment states of the multiple robots are quickly repaired, the staff manually restores the short-term abnormal equipment states of the multiple robots in the equipment management system; the equipment management system notifies the multiple robots that the short-term abnormal equipment states have been restored. The multiple robots continue to execute the multiple suspended cargo picking tasks. If the short-term abnormal equipment states of the multiple robots cannot be quickly repaired, the staff manually upgrades the short-term abnormal equipment states of the multiple robots to long-term abnormal equipment states in the equipment management system; the equipment management system notifies the multiple robots to delete the multiple unfinished cargo picking tasks. The multiple robots notify the workstation that the multiple unfinished cargo picking tasks are completed by manual picking. When the long-term abnormal equipment states of the multiple robots are restored to normal, the staff manually restores the long-term abnormal equipment states of the multiple robots in the equipment management system; the equipment management system notifies the multiple robots to allow receiving new cargo picking tasks. The multiple robots notify the workstation to dispatch new cargo picking tasks, and the multiple robots execute the new cargo picking tasks.

[0058] According to an embodiment of the present invention, when the robot's device status is abnormal and cannot perform the cargo picking task, manual picking replaces the robot to complete the cargo picking task, which further reduces the cargo picking efficiency and cargo outbound efficiency.

[0059] In one embodiment, the multiple robots in the long-term abnormal equipment state refuse to accept new cargo picking tasks. The multiple cargo picking tasks already accepted by the multiple robots in the long-term abnormal equipment state are completed by manual picking.

[0060] Figure 3 FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a cargo picking system according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 3 As shown, the cargo picking system includes: a workstation 301, multiple robots 302, and an equipment management system 303.

[0061] Workstation 301: used to dispatch multiple cargo picking tasks to multiple robots;

[0062] A plurality of robots 302: used to respectively perform the plurality of cargo picking tasks;

[0063] Equipment management system 303: used to monitor the equipment status of the multiple robots throughout the entire process, and determine different cargo picking solutions involving manual participation according to the abnormal failure duration of the equipment status of the robots.

[0064] In one embodiment of the present invention, a workstation 301 is used to dispatch multiple cargo picking tasks to multiple robots; multiple robots 302 are used to respectively execute the multiple cargo picking tasks; an equipment management system 303 is used to monitor the equipment status of the multiple robots throughout the entire process, and determine different cargo picking schemes involving manual participation according to the abnormal fault duration of the equipment status of the robots.

[0065] Accordingly, an embodiment of the present invention provides a computer-readable storage medium, which stores computer instructions, and when the computer instructions are executed, the operations specified in the above-mentioned cargo picking method are implemented.

[0066] The flowcharts and block diagrams in the accompanying drawings illustrate the possible system frameworks, functions and operations of the systems, methods and devices of the embodiments of the present invention. The boxes on the flowcharts and block diagrams can represent a module, a program segment or just a piece of code, and the modules, program segments and codes are all executable instructions for implementing the specified logical functions. It should also be noted that the executable instructions for implementing the specified logical functions can be recombined to generate new modules and program segments. Therefore, the boxes and the order of the boxes in the accompanying drawings are only used to better illustrate the process and steps of the embodiments, and should not be used as a limitation on the invention itself.

[0067] The above descriptions are only some embodiments of the present invention and are not intended to limit the present invention. For those skilled in the art, the present invention may have various modifications and variations. Any modification, equivalent replacement, improvement, etc. made within the spirit and principle of the present invention shall be included in the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A method for picking goods, characterized in that: include: The workstation dispatches multiple cargo picking tasks to multiple robots; A plurality of robots performs the plurality of cargo picking tasks; The equipment management system monitors the equipment status of the multiple robots throughout the process, and determines different cargo picking schemes involving manual participation according to the abnormal fault duration of the equipment status of the robots; Among them, if the multiple robots fail to perform the multiple cargo picking tasks normally, the equipment management system will mark the multiple robots as short-term abnormal equipment status and suspend the multiple cargo picking tasks. If the short-term abnormal equipment status of the multiple robots cannot be quickly repaired, the short-term abnormal equipment status of the multiple robots will be upgraded to a long-term abnormal equipment status, wherein the multiple cargo picking tasks that the multiple robots in the long-term abnormal equipment status have received are completed by manual picking.

2. The cargo picking method according to claim 1, characterized in that: Before the multiple robots execute the multiple cargo picking tasks, the method further includes: an equipment management system monitoring whether the equipment status of the multiple robots is normal.

3. The cargo picking method according to claim 2, characterized in that: If the equipment status of the multiple robots is abnormal, the multiple robots notify the workstation that the multiple cargo picking tasks are completed by manual picking; as well as When the device states of the multiple robots return to normal, the multiple robots notify the workstation to re-assign the cargo picking tasks.

4. The cargo picking method according to claim 3, characterized in that: If the equipment status of the multiple robots is normal, the multiple robots perform the multiple cargo picking tasks.

5. The cargo picking method according to claim 4, characterized in that: The equipment management system monitors whether the multiple robots perform the multiple cargo picking tasks normally.

6. The cargo picking method according to claim 5, characterized in that: If the multiple robots perform the multiple cargo picking tasks normally, the multiple robots transmit the picking results of the multiple cargo picking tasks back to the workstation.

7. The cargo picking method according to claim 6, characterized in that: If the multiple robots fail to perform the multiple cargo picking tasks normally, the multiple robots report to the equipment management system and suspend the multiple cargo picking tasks; The equipment management system marks the multiple robots as being in a short-term abnormal equipment state and notifies the staff to perform maintenance through a sound alarm.

8. The cargo picking method according to claim 7, characterized in that: If the short-term abnormal equipment status of the multiple robots is quickly repaired, the staff manually restores the short-term abnormal equipment status of the multiple robots in the equipment management system.

9. The cargo picking method according to claim 8, characterized in that: The device management system notifies the plurality of robots that the short-term abnormal device state has been restored; and The plurality of robots continue to execute the plurality of suspended cargo picking tasks.

10. The cargo picking method according to claim 9, characterized in that: If the short-term abnormal equipment status of the multiple robots cannot be quickly repaired, the staff manually upgrades the short-term abnormal equipment status of the multiple robots to a long-term abnormal equipment status in the equipment management system.

11. The cargo picking method according to claim 10, characterized in that: The equipment management system notifies the multiple robots to delete the multiple uncompleted cargo picking tasks.

12. The cargo picking method according to claim 11, characterized in that: The multiple robots notify the workstation that the multiple unexecuted cargo picking tasks are completed by manual picking.

13. The cargo picking method according to claim 12, characterized in that: The multiple robots in the long-term abnormal equipment state refuse to accept new cargo picking tasks.

14. The cargo picking method according to claim 13, characterized in that: After the long-term abnormal equipment status of the multiple robots returns to normal, the staff manually restores the long-term abnormal equipment status of the multiple robots in the equipment management system.

15. The cargo picking method according to claim 14, characterized in that: The equipment management system notifies the plurality of robots to allow receiving new cargo picking tasks; and The plurality of robots inform the workstation to assign a new cargo picking task, and the plurality of robots execute the new cargo picking task.

16. The cargo picking method according to claim 1, characterized in that: Before the step of the workstation dispatching a plurality of cargo picking tasks to a plurality of robots, the step further includes: the workstation monitoring whether the plurality of robots are allowed to receive new cargo picking tasks; and If the multiple robots are allowed to receive new cargo picking tasks, the workstation dispatches the multiple cargo picking tasks to the multiple robots.

17. A cargo picking system, characterized in that: include: Workstation: used to dispatch multiple cargo picking tasks to multiple robots; A plurality of robots: used to respectively perform the plurality of cargo picking tasks; Equipment management system: used to monitor the equipment status of the multiple robots throughout the process, and determine different cargo picking schemes involving manual participation according to the abnormal fault duration of the equipment status of the robots; Among them, if the multiple robots fail to perform the multiple cargo picking tasks normally, the equipment management system will mark the multiple robots as short-term abnormal equipment status and suspend the multiple cargo picking tasks. If the short-term abnormal equipment status of the multiple robots cannot be quickly repaired, the short-term abnormal equipment status of the multiple robots will be upgraded to a long-term abnormal equipment status, wherein the multiple cargo picking tasks that the multiple robots in the long-term abnormal equipment status have received are completed by manual picking.

18. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that: The computer-readable storage medium stores computer instructions, and when the computer instructions are executed, the cargo picking method according to any one of claims 1 to 16 is implemented.

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