A task processing method and device

Abstract

The present invention discloses a task processing method and device, which relate to the field of logistics and warehousing technology. A specific implementation of the method includes: according to the position of the goods specified by the task to be executed on the shelf, the task belonging to the same channel and the same layer is constructed into a task set; when there is a transport device on the current layer corresponding to the task set, the value of the influencing factor corresponding to at least one task in the task set is obtained to determine the execution order of at least one task; at least one task is sent to the transport device, so that the transport device executes the task in accordance with the execution order. After summarizing the task belonging to the same layer, the method determines the execution order of each task in the task set, and the transport device executes the task in accordance with the execution order. During the execution of the task, the transport device does not need to change layers, which reduces the number of times the transport device changes layers and improves the operation efficiency.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of logistics and warehousing, and in particular to a task processing method and device. Background Art

[0002] In an automated warehouse based on a shuttle system, upon receiving a job, the server determines the shelf location of the goods specified in the job and then dispatches the job to the shuttle on the corresponding floor based on that location. The shuttles then execute the jobs in the order in which they were dispatched. If a job is received on a floor without a shuttle, the nearest shuttle, which has no pending jobs, is typically dispatched to that floor.

[0003] In the process of implementing the present invention, the inventors discovered that the prior art has at least the following problems:

[0004] (1) When the shuttle car performs tasks according to the order of task issuance, the tasks on the same layer may not be adjacent. The shuttle car needs to change layers to store and retrieve goods, which increases the number of times the shuttle car changes layers. Since the time for changing layers is long, the operation efficiency will be reduced.

[0005] (2) If the shuttle car selected to change floors currently receives a new task, then after the shuttle car changes floors, it will need to call shuttle cars on other floors to perform the new task. This will also increase the number of floors the shuttle car changes, thereby reducing the work efficiency.

[0006] (3) The shuttle car performs tasks according to the order in which the tasks are issued, ignoring the importance of the tasks themselves. For example, if urgent warehousing tasks are not given priority, it will lead to problems such as backlogs on the main line. Summary of the Invention

[0007] In light of this, embodiments of the present invention provide a task processing method and apparatus. By aggregating tasks belonging to the same layer, the impact factor values ​​corresponding to the aggregated task set are obtained to determine the execution order of the tasks in the task set. Transport equipment then executes the tasks in this order, eliminating the need for the transport equipment to switch layers during task execution. This reduces the number of layer changes and improves operational efficiency.

[0008] To achieve the above objective, according to one aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, a task processing method is provided.

[0009] A task processing method according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: constructing work tasks belonging to the same channel and the same layer into a work task set according to the location of the goods specified by the work task to be executed on the shelf; when there is a transportation equipment on the current layer corresponding to the work task set, obtaining the value of the influencing factor corresponding to at least one work task in the work task set to determine the execution order of the at least one work task; and sending the at least one work task to the transportation equipment so that the transportation equipment executes the work task in accordance with the execution order.

[0010] Optionally, the influencing factors include any one or more of the following: whether the goods are blocked, the number of picking cache locations corresponding to the work task, the priority of the work task, and the distance between the goods location and the channel entrance; determining the execution order of the at least one work task includes: determining the execution order of the at least one work task in the order of whether the goods are blocked, the number of picking cache locations from most to least, the priority of the work task from high to low, and the distance between the goods location and the channel entrance from far to near.

[0011] Optionally, the transport equipment executes the operation task according to the execution order, including: the transport equipment executes the operation task according to the preset entry and exit rules and the execution order; wherein the entry and exit rules are one out with one in or one in with one out.

[0012] Optionally, the method also includes: when there is no work task to be executed on the layer where the current transport equipment is located, according to a preset layer change rule, selecting a target layer from other layers where there are work tasks to be executed but no transport equipment; sending the target layer to the current transport equipment through a first layer change instruction, so that the current transport equipment changes layers to the target layer.

[0013] Optionally, the layer-changing rules include any one or more of the following: the number of tasks in the other layers that have urgent work tasks, the number of tasks whose backlog time exceeds a preset first threshold value, and the number of work task backlogs from many to few; selecting the target layer from the other layers where there are work tasks to be performed but no transportation equipment according to the preset layer-changing rules includes: selecting the target layer from the other layers where there are work tasks to be performed but no transportation equipment in the order of the number of tasks in the other layers that have urgent work tasks, the number of tasks whose backlog time exceeds the first threshold value, and the number of work task backlogs from many to few.

[0014] Optionally, the method also includes: when there is no transport equipment on the current layer where the goods specified by the work task are located, obtaining idle transport equipment located on other layers of the shelf; if the number of idle transport equipment is equal to 1, sending the current layer to the idle transport equipment through a second layer change instruction, so that the idle transport equipment switches layers to the current layer; if the number of idle transport equipment is greater than 1, calculating the probability that the layer where the idle transport equipment is located will be issued a work task, so as to select a target transport equipment from the idle transport equipment according to the probability; sending the current layer to the target transport equipment through a third layer change instruction, so that the target transport equipment switches layers to the current layer.

[0015] Optionally, the calculation of the probability that the layer where the idle transport equipment is located will be assigned a work task includes: calculating the work probability of at least one type of inventory equipment in the layer where the idle transport equipment is located, and the proportion of the number of each type of inventory equipment in the total number of inventory equipment; using the proportion of the number of each type of inventory equipment in the total number of inventory equipment as a weight, and performing weighted summation of the work probabilities of each type of inventory equipment to obtain the probability that the layer where the idle transport equipment is located will be assigned a work task.

[0016] Optionally, the method also includes: when there is an urgent work task on the current layer of the shelf, selecting the transport equipment corresponding to the layer with the least work tasks to be executed from other layers where the transport equipment exists, and using the selected transport equipment as the target transport equipment; sending the current layer of the shelf to the target transport equipment through the fourth layer change instruction, so that the target transport equipment changes layers to the current layer of the shelf.

[0017] To achieve the above objective, according to another aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, a task processing device is provided.

[0018] A task processing device according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a construction module for constructing work tasks belonging to the same channel and the same layer into a work task set according to the location of the goods specified by the work task to be executed on the shelf; a determination module for obtaining the value of the influencing factor corresponding to at least one work task in the work task set when there is a transportation equipment on the current layer corresponding to the work task set, so as to determine the execution order of the at least one work task; and a sending module for sending the at least one work task to the transportation equipment so that the transportation equipment executes the work task in accordance with the execution order.

[0019] Optionally, the influencing factors include any one or more of the following: whether the goods are blocked, the number of picking cache locations corresponding to the work task, the priority of the work task, and the distance between the goods location and the channel entrance; the determination module is also used to determine the execution order of the at least one work task in the order of whether the goods are not blocked, the number of picking cache locations from most to least, the priority of the work task from high to low, and the distance between the goods location and the channel entrance from far to near.

[0020] Optionally, the device also includes: a first layer changing module, which is used to select a target layer from other layers where there are work tasks to be executed but no transportation equipment according to preset layer changing rules when there is no work task to be executed on the layer where the current transportation equipment is located; and send the target layer to the current transportation equipment through a first layer changing instruction, so that the current transportation equipment changes layers to the target layer.

[0021] Optionally, the device also includes: a second layer-changing module, which is used to obtain idle transport equipment located on other layers of the shelf when there is no transport equipment on the current layer where the goods specified by the operation task are located; if the number of idle transport equipment is equal to 1, the current layer is sent to the idle transport equipment through a second layer-changing instruction, so that the idle transport equipment switches layers to the current layer; if the number of idle transport equipment is greater than 1, the probability of the layer where the idle transport equipment is located being sent an operation task is calculated, so as to select a target transport equipment from the idle transport equipment according to the probability; and the current layer is sent to the target transport equipment through a third layer-changing instruction, so that the target transport equipment switches layers to the current layer.

[0022] Optionally, the device also includes: a third layer-changing module, which is used to select the transport equipment corresponding to the layer with the least work tasks to be executed from other layers where the transport equipment exists, and use the selected transport equipment as the target transport equipment when there is an urgent work task on the current layer of the shelf; and send the current layer of the shelf to the target transport equipment through a fourth layer-changing instruction, so that the target transport equipment changes layers to the current layer of the shelf.

[0023] To achieve the above objective, according to another aspect of the embodiments of the present invention, an electronic device is provided.

[0024] An electronic device according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: one or more processors; a storage device for storing one or more programs, wherein when the one or more programs are executed by the one or more processors, the one or more processors implement a task processing method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0025] To achieve the above objective, according to another aspect of the embodiments of the present invention, a computer-readable medium is provided.

[0026] A computer-readable medium according to an embodiment of the present invention stores a computer program, which, when executed by a processor, implements a task processing method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0027] One embodiment of the above invention has the following advantages or beneficial effects: after aggregating the work tasks belonging to the same channel and the same layer, the value of the influencing factor corresponding to the summarized work task set is obtained to determine the execution order of each work task in the work task set, and the transportation equipment executes the work tasks according to the execution order. During the execution of the task, the transportation equipment does not need to change layers, which reduces the number of times the transportation equipment changes layers and improves the work efficiency; determines the influencing factors and the priority of each influencing factor, and sorts the work tasks, further ensuring the work efficiency; executes the work tasks according to the principle of one out with one in or one in with one out, further improving the work efficiency; in a certain transportation When the equipment has no executable work tasks on the current layer, it will select the target layer from other layers to change layers. It can complete the work tasks on the same layer before changing layers, which not only reduces the number of times the transport equipment changes layers, but also improves the utilization rate of the transport equipment and improves work efficiency. When multiple transport equipment are idle, the idle transport equipment with the lowest probability is selected to change layers based on the probability of continued work tasks being issued to the layer where each idle transport equipment is located. This avoids the need to call transport equipment from other layers to execute new work tasks received subsequently after a certain transport equipment is replaced. If there is an urgent work task, the transport equipment with the least work tasks to be executed will be forced to change layers to the layer with urgent work tasks to avoid backlogs on the main line.

[0028] The further effects of the above-mentioned non-conventional optional manner will be described below in conjunction with specific embodiments. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0029] The accompanying drawings are provided for a better understanding of the present invention and are not intended to limit the present invention.

[0030] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the main steps of the task processing method according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0031] Figure 2 1. A top view of a multi-aisle automated warehouse based on a layer shuttle system according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0032] FIG3( a ) is a schematic diagram illustrating the implementation principle of the processing step 1 of the task processing method according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0033] FIG3( b ) is a schematic diagram illustrating the implementation principle of the second processing step of the task processing method according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0034] FIG3( c ) is a schematic diagram showing the implementation principle of the processing step 3 of the task processing method according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0035] FIG3( d ) is a schematic diagram showing the implementation principle of the fourth processing step of the task processing method according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0036] Figure 4 1 is a schematic diagram of the main flow of the processing process 1 of the task processing method according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0037] Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of main modules of a task processing device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0038] Figure 6 is an exemplary system architecture diagram in which embodiments of the present invention may be applied;

[0039] Figure 7 It is a schematic structural diagram of a computer device suitable for implementing an electronic device according to an embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0040] The following description of exemplary embodiments of the present invention is made in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which various details of the embodiments of the present invention are included to facilitate understanding. These details should be considered as merely exemplary. Therefore, it should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made to the embodiments described herein without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention. Similarly, for the sake of clarity and conciseness, descriptions of well-known functions and structures are omitted in the following description.

[0041] Figure 1 FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of the main steps of the task processing method according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 1 As shown, the task processing method of the embodiment of the present invention mainly includes the following steps:

[0042] Step S101: Based on the location of the goods specified by the task to be executed on the shelf, the tasks belonging to the same aisle and the same layer are constructed into a task set. After receiving the task, the central server determines the location of the shelf where the goods specified by the task are located, that is, the location of the shelf where the material box storing the goods is located, including the aisle, number of layers and number of columns. The tasks located in the same aisle and the same layer of the shelf are then summarized, and the tasks in the same aisle and the same layer are constructed into a corresponding task set. The task is a warehousing task and / or an outbound task. In the embodiment, the aisle where the material box is located is the lane of the shelf where the material box is located.

[0043] Step S102: If a transport device exists on the current level corresponding to the task set, the value of the impact factor corresponding to at least one task in the task set is obtained to determine the execution order of the at least one task. If a transport device exists on the current level corresponding to a task set, the execution order of the tasks in the task set can be determined. Based on actual operational requirements, the impact factors affecting operational efficiency and the priority of each impact factor are pre-determined. The process logic of inbound and outbound operations is similar. Taking outbound operations as an example, the impact factors can be one or more of the following: whether the goods to be outbound are blocked, the number of picking buffer slots corresponding to the outbound task, the priority of the outbound task, and the distance between the location of the goods to be outbound and the access point. Accordingly, the central server can determine the execution order of the tasks based on the order of whether the goods to be outbound are unblocked, the number of picking buffer slots from large to small, the priority of the outbound task from high to low, and the distance between the location of the goods to be outbound and the access point from far to near.

[0044] Step S103: Send the at least one work task to the transportation equipment, so that the transportation equipment executes the work task in the execution order. Transportation equipment is used to execute work tasks, such as shuttles, stackers, automated guided vehicles (AGVs), etc. The central server sends the work tasks to the transportation equipment one by one according to the determined execution order. Still taking the outbound task as an example, the transportation equipment takes out the goods according to the location of the goods and places them on the inbound and outbound cache, and feeds back the task completion information to the central server, and then waits to execute the next outbound task. Through the above process, the transportation equipment does not need to change layers during the execution of work tasks in the same channel and the same layer, which reduces the number of times the transportation equipment changes layers and improves work efficiency.

[0045] Figure 2 This is a top view of a multi-aisle automated warehouse based on a layer shuttle system according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 As shown, the multi-lane automated warehouse of the embodiment of the present invention includes: shelves 201, shuttles 202, inbound and outbound cache locations 203, inbound and outbound elevators 204, picking workbenches 205, and layer-changing elevators 206. Shelf 201 is a double-depth shelf, and material boxes are stored on the storage locations of shelf 201. When storing goods, the shelf stores the back row first and then the front row; when taking goods, the front row is taken first and then the back row, that is, if you want to take the back row material box and there is a material box blocking the front row, you need to take the front row material box first. There are many types of material boxes, such as box types can be divided into 1 / 1 box type (capable of storing one type of goods), 1 / 2 box type (capable of storing two types of goods, with a partition in the middle of the box) and 1 / 4 box type (capable of storing four types of goods, with three partitions in the middle of the box), etc.

[0046] The shuttle 202 can move horizontally on one floor, and can pick up a box to be shipped out of the warehouse and send it to the in-and-out buffer 203 on the corresponding floor. It can also pick up a box to be shipped in from the in-and-out buffer 203 and send it to the storage location on that floor. Generally, due to cost considerations or practical needs, not every aisle has a shuttle. That is, the number of shuttles in an aisle is less than the number of shelves. In this case, the shuttle may need to change floors to pick up goods.

[0047] The in-and-out elevator 204 can take out the material box from the in-and-out cache position 203 according to a certain logic and transport it to the first-layer conveyor line. The material box is transferred to the picking workbench 205 through the conveyor line; it can also transport the material box on the conveyor line to the in-and-out cache position 203.

[0048] The picking workbench 205 can be used by humans or picking robots to perform picking and sorting operations.

[0049] The layer-changing elevator 206 is used to change the layers of the shuttle vehicle 202 . Figure 2 The black box corresponding to 206 is only used to indicate the position of the layer-changing elevator, and its specific structure is not drawn.

[0050] Figure 3(a)-Figure 3(d) FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the implementation principle of the task processing method according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 3(a)-Figure 3(d) As shown, the task processing method of the embodiment of the present invention includes four parallel processing processes for determining when to call the shuttle car to change floors, which shuttle car to call to change floors, and which floor to change to. The four processing processes are: 1. The task processing process for the same lane and same floor operation tasks (see Figure 3 (a)); 2. The processing process for which floor the shuttle car is changed to when there are no executable operation tasks on the floor where the shuttle car is located (see Figure 3 (b)); 3. The processing process for selecting which shuttle car to change floors when multiple shuttle cars are idle (see Figure 3 (c)); 4. The processing process for selecting which shuttle car to change floors when there is an urgent operation task (see Figure 3 (d)). The above four processing processes are explained below.

[0051] Figure 4 FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of the main flow of the processing process 1 of the task processing method according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 4 As shown, the processing process 1 of the task processing method according to the embodiment of the present invention, taking the operation task as the outbound task as an example, mainly includes the following steps:

[0052] Step S401: Based on the location of the goods on the shelf specified by the outbound task to be executed, the work tasks belonging to the same lane and the same layer are constructed into an initial outbound task set. The work tasks belonging to the same lane and the same layer are constructed into an initial outbound task set. The outbound task will specify the goods to be taken out and determine the location of the goods in the warehouse. For example, the number of lanes in a multi-lane automated warehouse is M, and the number of layers of shelves in each lane is N. Summarize all outbound tasks located in the i-th lane (1≤i≤M) and the j-th layer (1≤j≤N) of the shelf in the warehouse, and add the summarized outbound tasks to the initial outbound task set, which can be expressed by the following formula:

[0053]

[0054] Where Q i,j is the initial outbound task set corresponding to the i-th lane and the j-th layer; is the nth outbound task in the i-th lane and the j-th floor; n is the number of outbound tasks in the i-th lane and the j-th floor.

[0055] Step S402: Filter the initial outbound task set based on whether there are free picking cache slots on the picking workstations corresponding to each outbound task in the initial outbound task set, and save the outbound tasks with free picking cache slots to the intermediate outbound task set. Different outbound tasks may be picked at different picking workstations. If the picking workstation corresponding to a certain outbound task has no free picking cache slots, the outbound task is filtered out, and the outbound tasks with free picking cache slots are retained to prevent goods from being accumulated on the main line.

[0056] Step S403: Obtain the values ​​of the impact factors corresponding to each outbound task in the intermediate outbound task set, and then determine the execution order of each outbound task according to the pre-set priority order of each impact factor. If the layer corresponding to a certain intermediate outbound task set has a shuttle car and contains multiple outbound tasks, the execution order of each outbound task can be determined according to this step. If the layer corresponding to the intermediate outbound task set has a shuttle car and contains only one outbound task, the outbound task can be directly sent to the shuttle car corresponding to the layer. If the layer corresponding to the intermediate outbound task set does not have a shuttle car, it is necessary to call a shuttle car from other layers before executing this step.

[0057] In an embodiment, the influencing factors include: whether the goods to be shipped are blocked, the number of picking cache locations, the priority of the shipping task, and the distance between the location of the goods to be shipped and the lane entrance. The occupancy status of each storage location is stored in the central server, and whether the goods to be shipped are blocked can be determined through the occupancy status. The priority of each shipping task is defined in the task. The priority of each influencing factor is not fixed. In an embodiment, the shipping tasks in the intermediate shipping task set can be sorted in the order of whether the goods to be shipped are not blocked, the number of picking cache locations from large to small, the priority of the shipping task from high to low, and the distance between the location of the goods to be shipped and the lane entrance from far to near.

[0058] Step S404: The sorted outbound tasks are dispatched one by one to the shuttle vehicles, which then execute each outbound task in sequence. In this embodiment, the central server dispatches the first sorted outbound task to the shuttle vehicle on that floor. After the shuttle vehicle completes the outbound task, it sends a task completion message back to the central server. Upon receiving this message, the central server sends the second outbound task to the shuttle vehicle, and continues processing each outbound task in this manner until all outbound tasks in the intermediate outbound task set are completed.

[0059] If the task includes both outbound and inbound tasks, in a preferred embodiment, the shuttle can execute the task based on the principle of one outbound and one inbound, or one inbound and one outbound, to improve work efficiency. One outbound and one inbound means that the shuttle transports the material boxes to be outbound to the inbound and outbound buffer on the corresponding floor, and then transports the material boxes to be inbound from the inbound and outbound buffer to the storage location on the corresponding floor of the warehouse; the same principle applies to one inbound and one outbound.

[0060] When the inbound and outbound cache is full, if there are boxes waiting to be put into the warehouse in the inbound and outbound cache, the inbound task will be executed first, and then the outbound task will be executed; if all the boxes in the inbound and outbound cache are boxes to be taken out of the warehouse, wait for the inbound and outbound elevator to move one of the boxes away, and then execute the outbound task after the inbound and outbound cache is vacated.

[0061] The second processing step of the task processing method according to the embodiment of the present invention is specifically described as follows:

[0062] If a shuttle's floor has no pending tasks, the shuttle will be assigned a floor from another floor with pending tasks but no shuttles, according to the following floor change rules. This ensures that the shuttle completes all available tasks on the same floor before changing floors, minimizing the number of floor changes. The absence of pending tasks may mean that the shuttle has not received any tasks within a preset time period, or that there are no free picking buffer slots at the picking station. The floor change rules specify the factors to consider when changing floors, as well as their order of priority.

[0063] Factors that need to be considered when changing layers may include: whether it is an urgent work task layer, the number of tasks whose backlog time exceeds the first threshold, and the number of work tasks in backlog. Among them, urgent work tasks include urgent warehousing tasks, which refer to tasks that can only wait on the conveyor line because there is no shuttle vehicle at the destination layer of the material box to be stored and the in-and-out buffer positions are full. In the embodiment, the picking workbench corresponding to the work task has an idle picking buffer position, but the work task that has not been executed is regarded as a backlog work task. The priority order of each factor is not fixed. In the embodiment, the layer-changing operation is as follows:

[0064] (1) When there is no pending task on the current shuttle's layer, select the target layer from other layers that have pending tasks but no shuttles, in the order of the number of tasks with urgent tasks, the number of tasks with a backlog time exceeding the first threshold, and the number of tasks with a backlog of tasks;

[0065] (2) The target layer is sent to the current shuttle through the first layer change instruction, so that the current shuttle changes layers to the target layer.

[0066] The specific description of the processing step 3 of the task processing method according to the embodiment of the present invention is as follows:

[0067] If a current layer without a shuttle receives a task, a shuttle needs to be selected from other layers with idle shuttles and transferred to the current layer to improve the utilization rate of the shuttles and improve the work efficiency. The specific implementation is as follows:

[0068] (1) If the number of idle shuttles is 1, the current floor is sent to the idle shuttle through the second floor change instruction, so that the idle shuttle changes floors to the current floor.

[0069] (2) If the number of idle shuttles is greater than 1, the probability of each idle shuttle being assigned a task is calculated, and the target shuttle is selected from each idle shuttle according to the probability; then the current layer is sent to the target shuttle through the third layer change instruction, so that the target shuttle changes layers to the current layer.

[0070] In this embodiment, the idle shuttle corresponding to the layer with the lowest probability of being assigned a task is used as the target shuttle. The probability of each idle shuttle being assigned a task can be calculated using the following formula:

[0071]

[0072] Where, P i,j is the probability of the i-th lane and the j-th layer being assigned a task; k is the number of bin types in the i-th lane and the j-th layer; p v is the operation probability of the vth type of bin; is the ratio of the number of type v bins in the i-th lane, j-th floor, to the number of all types of bins. In this embodiment, the ratio of the number of inbound and outbound bins of each type over a period of time can be used as the operation probability of the bin of that type. A bin is a type of inventory equipment used to store goods.

[0073] The fourth processing step of the task processing method according to the embodiment of the present invention is described in detail as follows:

[0074] If there is an urgent work task on the current layer of the shelf, the shuttle corresponding to the layer with the least work tasks to be executed can be selected from other layers where shuttles exist, and the selected shuttle can be used as the target shuttle; then the current layer is sent to the target shuttle through the fourth layer change instruction to force the target shuttle to change layers to the current layer of the shelf.

[0075] Among them, emergency operation tasks include emergency warehousing tasks and emergency outbound tasks. Emergency outbound tasks refer to warehousing tasks whose waiting time exceeds a preset threshold. In the embodiment, the above-mentioned forced layer change operation can also be triggered when the number of warehousing tasks backlogged at the tunnel entrance exceeds a preset threshold. In the above manner, emergency operation tasks can be executed first, and when there are no free storage spaces on the target layer corresponding to the emergency operation task, the storage space on the target layer can be cleared as soon as possible, thereby avoiding the material boxes corresponding to the emergency operation tasks waiting at the tunnel entrance, thereby avoiding backlogs on the main line.

[0076] In a preferred embodiment, the target shuttle can change floors after completing the remaining tasks on its current floor. This means the target shuttle will no longer execute any subsequent tasks. The central server can continue to locate tasks on that floor, but will assume there are no shuttles on that floor. Alternatively, the target shuttle can force a floor change without executing any remaining tasks on the current floor.

[0077] It can be seen from the task processing method of the embodiment of the present invention that after aggregating the job tasks belonging to the same channel and the same layer, the value of the influencing factor corresponding to the summarized job task set is obtained to determine the execution order of each job task in the job task set. The transportation equipment executes the job tasks according to the execution order. During the execution of the task, the transportation equipment does not need to change layers, which reduces the number of times the transportation equipment changes layers and improves the operation efficiency.

[0078] Figure 5 FIG is a schematic diagram of the main modules of the task processing device according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 5 As shown, the task processing device (i.e., central server) 500 of the embodiment of the present invention mainly includes:

[0079] The construction module 501 is used to construct the work tasks belonging to the same aisle and the same layer into a work task set based on the location of the goods on the shelf specified by the work task to be executed. After receiving the work task, this module determines the location of the shelf where the goods specified by the work task are located, that is, the location of the shelf where the material box storing the goods is located, including the aisle, number of layers and number of columns. The work tasks located in the same aisle and the same layer of the shelf are then summarized and the work tasks in the same aisle and the same layer are constructed into a corresponding work task set. The work tasks are warehousing tasks and / or outbound tasks. In the embodiment, the aisle where the material box is located is the lane of the shelf where the material box is located.

[0080] Determination module 502 is configured to, if a transport device exists on the current level corresponding to the task set, obtain the value of an impact factor corresponding to at least one task in the task set to determine the execution order of the at least one task. If a transport device exists on the current level corresponding to a task set, the execution order of the tasks in the task set can be determined. Factors influencing operational efficiency and their priority order are pre-determined based on actual operational requirements. The process logic of inbound and outbound operations is similar. For outbound operations, for example, the impact factors can include one or more of the following: whether the goods to be outbound are blocked, the number of picking buffer slots corresponding to the outbound task, the priority of the outbound task, and the distance between the location of the goods to be outbound and the access point. Accordingly, the execution order of the tasks can be determined based on the order of whether the goods to be outbound are unblocked, the number of picking buffer slots from large to small, the priority of the outbound task from high to low, and the distance between the location of the goods to be outbound and the access point from far to near.

[0081] The sending module 503 is used to send the at least one work task to the transportation equipment, so that the transportation equipment can execute the work task according to the execution order. The transportation equipment is used to execute work tasks, such as shuttles, stackers, automatic guided vehicles, etc. This module sends the work tasks to the transportation equipment one by one according to the determined execution order. Still taking the outbound task as an example, the transportation equipment takes out the goods according to the location of the goods and places them on the inbound and outbound cache position, and feeds back the task completion information to the task processing device, and then waits for the execution of the next outbound task. Through the above process, the transportation equipment does not need to change layers during the execution of work tasks in the same channel and the same layer, which reduces the number of times the transportation equipment changes layers and improves work efficiency.

[0082] In addition, the task processing device 500 of the embodiment of the present invention may further include: first to third layer switching modules ( Figure 5(not shown). The first layer switching module is configured to, when there are no pending tasks on the layer where the current transport device is located, select a target layer from other layers where there are pending tasks but no transport devices, according to a preset layer switching rule; and send the target layer to the current transport device via a first layer switching instruction, so that the current transport device switches to the target layer.

[0083] The second layer-changing module is used to obtain idle transport equipment located on other layers of the shelf when there is no transport equipment on the current layer where the goods specified by the work task are located; if the number of idle transport equipment is equal to 1, the current layer is sent to the idle transport equipment through the second layer-changing instruction, so that the idle transport equipment switches to the current layer; if the number of idle transport equipment is greater than 1, the probability of the layer where the idle transport equipment is located being sent the work task is calculated, so as to select the target transport equipment from the idle transport equipment according to the probability; and the current layer is sent to the target transport equipment through the third layer-changing instruction, so that the target transport equipment switches to the current layer.

[0084] The third layer-changing module is used to select the transport equipment corresponding to the layer with the least work tasks to be executed from other layers where transport equipment exists, and use the selected transport equipment as the target transport equipment when there is an urgent work task on the current layer of the shelf; and send the current layer of the shelf to the target transport equipment through the fourth layer-changing instruction, so that the target transport equipment changes layers to the current layer of the shelf.

[0085] From the above description, it can be seen that after aggregating the work tasks belonging to the same channel and the same layer, the value of the impact factor corresponding to the summarized work task set is obtained to determine the execution order of each work task in the work task set. The transportation equipment executes the work tasks according to this execution order. During the execution of the task, the transportation equipment does not need to change layers, which reduces the number of times the transportation equipment changes layers and improves work efficiency.

[0086] Figure 6 An exemplary system architecture 600 is shown to which the task processing method or task processing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention can be applied.

[0087] like Figure 6 As shown, system architecture 600 may include terminal devices 601, 602, 603, a network 604, and a server 605. Network 604 is used to provide a medium for communication links between terminal devices 601, 602, 603 and server 605. Network 604 may include various connection types, such as wired or wireless communication links or fiber optic cables.

[0088] Users can use terminal devices 601, 602, 603 to interact with server 605 via network 604 to receive or send messages, etc. Terminal devices 601, 602, 603 are used to transport goods to be shipped out or received, such as shuttle vehicles, stackers, and AGV vehicles.

[0089] Server 605 can be a server that provides various services. It can locate the received job tasks, build a job task set, determine the execution order of the job tasks, and feed back the processing results (such as the execution order of each job task) to the terminal device.

[0090] It should be noted that the task processing method provided in the embodiment of the present application is generally executed by the server 605 , and accordingly, the task processing device is generally set in the server 605 .

[0091] It should be understood that Figure 6 The number of terminal devices, networks and servers in the embodiment is merely illustrative. Any number of terminal devices, networks and servers may be provided as required.

[0092] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the present invention further provides an electronic device and a computer-readable medium.

[0093] The electronic device of the present invention includes: one or more processors; a storage device for storing one or more programs, and when the one or more programs are executed by the one or more processors, the one or more processors implement a task processing method of an embodiment of the present invention.

[0094] The computer-readable medium of the present invention stores a computer program thereon, and when the program is executed by a processor, a task processing method according to an embodiment of the present invention is implemented.

[0095] Reference below Figure 7 , which shows a schematic structural diagram of a computer system 700 suitable for implementing an electronic device according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 7 The electronic device shown is only an example and should not limit the functions and scope of use of the embodiments of the present invention.

[0096] like Figure 7As shown, the computer system 700 includes a central processing unit (CPU) 701, which can perform various appropriate actions and processes according to a program stored in a read-only memory (ROM) 702 or a program loaded from a storage unit 708 into a random access memory (RAM) 703. Various programs and data required for the operation of the computer system 700 are also stored in the RAM 703. The CPU 701, ROM 702, and RAM 703 are connected to each other via a bus 704. An input / output (I / O) interface 705 is also connected to the bus 704.

[0097] The following components are connected to the I / O interface 705: an input section 706 including a keyboard, a mouse, and the like; an output section 707 including devices such as a cathode ray tube (CRT), a liquid crystal display (LCD), and a speaker; a storage section 708 including a hard disk; and a communication section 709 including a network interface card such as a LAN card or a modem. The communication section 709 performs communication processing via a network such as the Internet. A drive 710 is also connected to the I / O interface 705 as needed. A removable medium 711, such as a magnetic disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, or a semiconductor memory, is installed in the drive 710 as needed, so that computer programs read therefrom can be installed into the storage section 708 as needed.

[0098] In particular, according to the embodiments disclosed herein, the processes described in the main step diagrams above can be implemented as computer software programs. For example, embodiments of the present disclosure include a computer program product comprising a computer program carried on a computer-readable medium, the computer program comprising program code for executing the methods shown in the main step diagrams. In such embodiments, the computer program can be downloaded and installed from a network via the communication section 709, and / or installed from a removable medium 711. When the computer program is executed by the central processing unit (CPU) 701, the above-mentioned functions defined in the system of the present invention are executed.

[0099] It should be noted that the computer-readable medium described in the present invention can be a computer-readable signal medium or a computer-readable storage medium, or any combination thereof. A computer-readable storage medium can be, for example, but not limited to, an electrical, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system, apparatus, or device, or any combination thereof. More specific examples of computer-readable storage media can include, but are not limited to, an electrical connection having one or more conductors, a portable computer disk, a hard disk, random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM or flash memory), optical fiber, a portable compact disk read-only memory (CD-ROM), an optical storage device, a magnetic storage device, or any suitable combination thereof. In the present invention, a computer-readable storage medium can be any tangible medium containing or storing a program that can be used by or in conjunction with an instruction execution system, apparatus, or device. In the present invention, a computer-readable signal medium can include a data signal propagated in baseband or as part of a carrier wave, carrying computer-readable program code. This propagated data signal can take a variety of forms, including but not limited to electromagnetic signals, optical signals, or any suitable combination thereof. A computer-readable signal medium may also be any computer-readable medium other than a computer-readable storage medium that can transmit, propagate, or transport a program for use by or in conjunction with an instruction execution system, apparatus, or device. Program code embodied on a computer-readable medium may be transmitted using any suitable medium, including but not limited to wireless, wireline, optical fiber cable, RF, or any suitable combination thereof.

[0100] The flowcharts and block diagrams in the accompanying drawings illustrate the possible implementation architecture, functions and operations of the systems, methods and computer program products according to various embodiments of the present invention. In this regard, each box in the flowchart or block diagram can represent a module, program segment, or a part of code, and the above-mentioned module, program segment, or a part of code contains one or more executable instructions for implementing the specified logical function. It should also be noted that in some alternative implementations, the functions marked in the box can also occur in an order different from that marked in the accompanying drawings. For example, two boxes represented in succession can actually be executed substantially in parallel, and they can sometimes be executed in the opposite order, depending on the functions involved. It should also be noted that each box in the block diagram or flowchart, and the combination of boxes in the block diagram or flowchart, can be implemented with a dedicated hardware-based system that performs the specified function or operation, or can be implemented with a combination of dedicated hardware and computer instructions.

[0101] The modules involved in the embodiments of the present invention may be implemented in software or in hardware. The modules described may also be provided in a processor. For example, they may be described as follows: a processor includes a construction module, a determination module, and a delivery module. The names of these modules do not, in some cases, constitute a limitation on the modules themselves. For example, the construction module may also be described as "a module that constructs the work tasks belonging to the same channel and the same layer into a work task set according to the location of the goods on the shelf specified by the work task to be executed."

[0102] As another aspect, the present invention further provides a computer-readable medium, which may be included in the device described in the above embodiment; or may exist independently and not be assembled into the device. The above computer-readable medium carries one or more programs, and when the above one or more programs are executed by a device, the device includes: constructing the work tasks belonging to the same channel and the same layer into a work task set according to the location of the goods on the shelf specified by the work task to be executed; when there is a transportation device on the current layer corresponding to the work task set, obtaining the value of the influence factor corresponding to at least one work task in the work task set to determine the execution order of the at least one work task; and sending the at least one work task to the transportation device so that the transportation device executes the work task in accordance with the execution order.

[0103] From the above description, it can be seen that after aggregating the work tasks belonging to the same channel and the same layer, the value of the impact factor corresponding to the summarized work task set is obtained to determine the execution order of each work task in the work task set. The transportation equipment executes the work tasks according to this execution order. During the execution of the task, the transportation equipment does not need to change layers, which reduces the number of times the transportation equipment changes layers and improves work efficiency.

[0104] The above-mentioned product can execute the method provided by the embodiment of the present invention, and has the functional modules and beneficial effects corresponding to the execution method. For technical details not fully described in this embodiment, please refer to the method provided by the embodiment of the present invention.

[0105] The above specific embodiments do not limit the scope of protection of the present invention. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, combinations, sub-combinations, and substitutions may occur depending on design requirements and other factors. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, and improvements made within the spirit and principles of the present invention are intended to be included within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A task processing method, characterized in that: Applicable to servers, including: According to the positions of the goods specified by the task to be executed on the shelves, the task belonging to the same channel and the same layer are constructed into a task set; wherein the task is a warehousing task and / or an outbound task; In the case where there is transport equipment in the current layer corresponding to the job task set, the value of the influencing factor corresponding to at least one job task in the job task set is obtained to determine the execution order of the at least one job task; in the case where there is no transport equipment in the current layer, based on the probability of each idle transport equipment's layer being assigned a job task, an idle transport equipment is selected to switch to the current layer; wherein, the process of calculating the probability of an idle transport equipment's layer being assigned a job task includes: calculating the job probability of at least one type of inventory equipment in the layer where the idle transport equipment is located, and the proportion of each type of inventory equipment in the total number of inventory equipment; using the proportion of each type of inventory equipment in the total number of inventory equipment as a weight, performing a weighted summation on the job probability of each type of inventory equipment, and obtaining the probability of the idle transport equipment's layer being assigned a job task; The at least one operation task is sent to the transportation equipment so that the transportation equipment executes the operation task according to the execution order.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that The influencing factors include any one or more of the following: whether the goods are blocked, the number of picking cache locations corresponding to the operation task, the priority of the operation task, and the distance between the goods location and the channel entrance; Determining the execution order of the at least one job task includes: The execution order of the at least one work task is determined according to the order that the goods are not blocked, the number of the picking cache positions is from large to small, the priority of the work task is from high to low, and the distance between the position of the goods and the channel entrance is from far to near.

3. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that The transport equipment performs the operation task according to the execution order, including: The transport equipment executes the operation task according to the preset entry and exit rules and the execution order; wherein the entry and exit rules are one out with one in or one in with one out.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein The method further comprises: If there is no pending task on the current transport equipment layer, the target layer is selected from other layers that have pending tasks but no transport equipment according to the preset layer switching rules. The target layer is sent to the current transport device via a first layer-changing instruction, so that the current transport device switches layers to the target layer.

5. The method according to claim 4, characterized in that The layer switching rule includes any one or more of the following: the number of urgent tasks on the other layers, the number of tasks whose backlog time exceeds a preset first threshold from large to small, and the number of backlog tasks from large to small; The step of selecting a target layer from other layers where there are tasks to be performed but no transportation equipment according to a preset layer switching rule includes: The target layer is selected from other layers where there are work tasks to be performed but no transportation equipment in the order of the number of tasks with the urgent work tasks, the number of tasks whose backlog time exceeds the first threshold, and the number of work task backlogs.

6. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that The method further comprises: If there is no transport equipment on the current layer where the goods specified by the operation task are located, obtain idle transport equipment on other layers of the shelf; If the number of the idle transport devices is equal to 1, the current layer is sent to the idle transport device via a second layer change instruction, so that the idle transport device switches layers to the current layer; If the number of the idle transport devices is greater than 1, the probability of the layer where the idle transport device is located being assigned a task is calculated, so as to select a target transport device from the idle transport devices according to the probability; The current layer is sent to the target transport device via a third layer-changing instruction, so that the target transport device switches layers to the current layer.

7. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that The method further comprises: When there is an urgent task on the current layer of the shelf, select the transport equipment corresponding to the layer with the least tasks to be performed from other layers where the transport equipment exists, and use the selected transport equipment as the target transport equipment; The current layer of the shelf is sent to the target transport device via a fourth layer-changing instruction, so that the target transport device switches layers to the current layer of the shelf.

8. A task processing device, characterized in that: include: A construction module is used to construct the operation tasks belonging to the same channel and the same layer into an operation task set according to the location of the goods on the shelf specified by the operation task to be executed; wherein the operation task is an inbound task and / or an outbound task; A determination module is used to obtain the value of the influencing factor corresponding to at least one job task in the job task set when there is transportation equipment in the current layer corresponding to the job task set, so as to determine the execution order of the at least one job task; when there is no transportation equipment in the current layer, select idle transportation equipment to switch to the current layer based on the probability of job tasks being assigned to the layer where each idle transportation equipment is located; wherein, the process of calculating the probability of job tasks being assigned to the layer where the idle transportation equipment is located includes: calculating the operation probability of at least one type of inventory equipment in the layer where the idle transportation equipment is located, and the proportion of the number of each type of inventory equipment in the total number of inventory equipment; using the proportion of the number of each type of inventory equipment in the total number of inventory equipment as a weight, performing weighted summation on the operation probability of each type of inventory equipment, and obtaining the probability of job tasks being assigned to the layer where the idle transportation equipment is located; The sending module is used to send the at least one operation task to the transportation equipment so that the transportation equipment executes the operation task according to the execution order.

9. An electronic device, characterized in that: include: one or more processors; a storage device for storing one or more programs, When the one or more programs are executed by the one or more processors, the one or more processors implement the method according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

10. A computer-readable medium having a computer program stored thereon, characterized in that: When the program is executed by a processor, the method according to any one of claims 1 to 7 is implemented.

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