Management device, management method, and computer-readable medium

Abstract

Provided is a management device, management method, and computer-readable medium that can suppress inefficient replenishment. A management device (1) has an information acquisition unit (2) that acquires consumption information, which is information indicating the amount of consumption of an article stored in a storage container, and a replenishment decision unit (3) that decides, based on the consumption information, whether to individually replenish the article to the storage container in which the article has been consumed using a picking robot or to replace the storage container in which the article has been consumed with a storage container that stores a predetermined amount of the article.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This disclosure relates to management devices, management methods, and computer-readable media. Background Technology

[0002] In recent years, progress has been made in the development of technologies for logistics automation. For example, International Publication No. 2017 / 168678 discloses the use of robots in warehouses to move goods to predetermined storage destinations, thereby efficiently realizing outbound and replenishment operations. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The inventors researched a technique for replenishing items stored in a container using robots when those items are consumed. The technique involved using robots to pick up items one by one and place them into the container. However, this method of replenishing items one by one by robots is sometimes inefficient, and a technique for achieving efficient replenishment is needed.

[0004] This disclosure was made in the context of the above-mentioned situation, with the aim of providing a management device, management method, and procedure capable of suppressing inefficient supplementation.

[0005] One technical solution of this disclosure for achieving the above-mentioned objective is a management device comprising: an information acquisition unit that acquires consumption information, the consumption information being information indicating the amount of items stored in a storage container consumed; and a replenishment decision unit that, based on the consumption information, decides whether to use a picking robot to individually replenish the items to the storage container where the items have been consumed, or to replace the storage container where the items have been consumed with a storage container that contains a predetermined number of the items.

[0006] This management device allows for flexible switching of replenishment methods based on the consumption status of items. Therefore, inefficient replenishment can be prevented.

[0007] In one of the above technical solutions, the replenishment decision unit may also decide, based on the amount of consumption determined according to the consumption information, whether to use the picking robot to individually replenish the items to the storage container where the items have been consumed, or to replace the storage container where the items have been consumed with a storage container that contains a predetermined number of the items.

[0008] This design avoids the need to replace storage containers that are cluttered with a large amount of items. Therefore, it reduces the likelihood of inefficient replenishment.

[0009] In one of the above technical solutions, the replenishment decision unit may also decide, based on the unevenness of the consumption of each item determined according to the consumption information, whether to use the picking robot to individually replenish the items to the storage container where the items have been consumed, or to replace the storage container where the items have been consumed with a storage container that contains a predetermined number of the items.

[0010] This design avoids the need to replace storage containers that still contain a large amount of items. Therefore, it reduces the likelihood of inefficient replenishment.

[0011] In one of the above technical solutions, the replenishment decision unit may also make the decision based on the operating cost of the picking robot, calculated according to the characteristics of the item and the consumption information, for replenishment by the picking robot.

[0012] Based on this configuration, the replenishment method is switched according to the operating cost of the picking robot. Therefore, it is possible to suppress inefficient replenishment from the perspective of the operating cost of the picking robot.

[0013] In one of the above technical solutions, the supplementary decision-making unit may also make the decision based on the operating cost, which is at least corresponding to the weight of the item.

[0014] Therefore, the supplementary method can be determined by taking into account the operating costs of the picking robot caused by weight.

[0015] In one of the above technical solutions, the supplementary decision-making unit may also make the decision based on the operating cost corresponding at least to the material of the item.

[0016] Therefore, the replenishment method can be determined by taking into account the operating costs of the material picking robot.

[0017] In one of the above technical solutions, the supplementary decision-making unit may also make the decision based on the operating cost, which is at least corresponding to the shape of the item.

[0018] Therefore, the supplementary method can be determined by taking into account the operating costs of the picking robot caused by shape.

[0019] Another technical solution of this disclosure for achieving the above objective is a management method, wherein a management device obtains consumption information, which is information indicating the amount of items stored in a storage container consumed, and based on the consumption information, decides whether to use a picking robot to individually replenish the items to the storage container where the items have been consumed, or to replace the storage container where the items have been consumed with a storage container that contains a predetermined number of the items.

[0020] This management method allows for flexible switching of replenishment methods based on the consumption status of items. Therefore, inefficient replenishment can be prevented.

[0021] Another technical solution of this disclosure for achieving the above objectives is a program that causes a computer to perform: an information acquisition step, acquiring consumption information, the consumption information being information indicating the amount of items consumed in a storage container; and a replenishment decision step, based on the consumption information, deciding whether to use a picking robot to individually replenish the items to the storage container where the items have been consumed, or to replace the storage container where the items have been consumed with a storage container that contains a predetermined number of the items.

[0022] According to this procedure, the replenishment method can be flexibly switched based on the consumption status of the items. Therefore, inefficient replenishment can be suppressed.

[0023] According to this disclosure, management devices, management methods, and procedures that can suppress inefficient replenishment can be provided.

[0024] The above and other objects, features and advantages of this disclosure will become more apparent from the detailed description given below and the accompanying drawings, which are given by way of example only, and therefore should not be construed as limiting the disclosure. Attached Figure Description

[0025] Figure 1 This is a block diagram illustrating an example of the structure of the management device involved in the implementation.

[0026] Figure 2 This is a flowchart illustrating an example of the operational flow of the management device involved in the implementation of the method.

[0027] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of the structure of the item management system according to Embodiment 1.

[0028] Figure 4 This is a schematic front view showing an example of a shelf structure for accommodating storage boxes.

[0029] Figure 5 This is a schematic side view illustrating an example of the structure of a picking robot.

[0030] Figure 6 A schematic side view showing an example of the structure of a transport robot.

[0031] Figure 7 This is a block diagram illustrating an example of the functional structure of the management device involved in Implementation 1.

[0032] Figure 8This is a block diagram illustrating an example of the hardware structure of the management device involved in the implementation.

[0033] Figure 9 This is a flowchart illustrating an example of the operation of the management device involved in Implementation 1.

[0034] Figure 10 This is a block diagram illustrating an example of the functional structure of the management device involved in Embodiment 2.

[0035] Figure 11 It is a table used to explain the calculation of the size of the unevenness.

[0036] Figure 12 This is a flowchart illustrating an example of the operation of the management device involved in Implementation 2.

[0037] Figure 13 This is a block diagram illustrating an example of the functional structure of the management device involved in Implementation 3.

[0038] Figure 14 This is a table that shows specific examples of how to determine the cost of an activity used to select an item.

[0039] Figure 15 It is a table showing specific examples of calculated activity costs.

[0040] Figure 16 It is a table showing specific examples of calculated activity costs.

[0041] Figure 17 This is a flowchart illustrating an example of the operation of the management device involved in Implementation 3. Detailed Implementation

[0042] <Summary of Implementation Methods>

[0043] Before providing a detailed description of the implementation methods, an overview of the implementation methods will be given. Figure 1 This is a block diagram illustrating an example of the structure of the management device 1, which relates to the outline of the implementation method. The management device 1 is a device that performs control processing to replenish consumed items when items stored in a storage container are consumed. For example, the items are consumable items, and consumption is achieved by a user or others taking items out of the storage container. Figure 1 As shown, the management device 1 has an information acquisition unit 2 and a supplementary decision unit 3.

[0044] The information acquisition unit 2 acquires consumption information, which indicates the amount of items consumed in the storage container. The information acquisition unit 2 can also acquire information indicating the amount of each item consumed when different items are stored in a single storage container, and use this as consumption information.

[0045] The replenishment decision unit 3, based on the consumption information obtained by the information acquisition unit 2, determines whether to replenish the items using either the first replenishment method or the second replenishment method. Here, the first replenishment method refers to using a picking robot to individually replenish the items to the storage container where the items have been consumed. That is, the first replenishment method replenishes the items by adding them to the storage container where the quantity of items has decreased compared to the initial state using a picking robot. This process of adding items is repeated until the quantity of items reaches a predetermined number (the quantity in the initial state). Furthermore, in the first replenishment method, other robots (such as the transport robot 300 described later) may be used for handling the storage containers. The second replenishment method, on the other hand, refers to replacing the storage container where the items have been consumed with a storage container that holds a predetermined number of the items. That is, the second replenishment method replenishes the items by replacing the first storage container where the quantity of items has decreased compared to the initial state with a new second storage container that holds a predetermined number of items (the quantity in the initial state). In other words, in this method, a picking robot is not used. In addition, in the second supplementary method, other robots (such as the transport robot 300 described later) may also be used for the transport of the storage containers.

[0046] Figure 2 This is a flowchart illustrating an example of the operation flow of the management device 1 involved in the implementation method. Hereinafter, according to... Figure 2 An example of the operation flow of management device 1 will be explained.

[0047] First, in step S11, the information acquisition unit 2 acquires consumption information about a storage container.

[0048] Next, in step S12, the replenishment decision unit 3 determines which of the first replenishment method and the second replenishment method to perform based on the consumption information obtained in step S11.

[0049] The management device 1, which relates to the overview of the implementation method, has been described above. For example, when the consumption of items is high, the replenishment time becomes longer when a picking robot is used for replenishment, reducing the efficiency of the replenishment operation. Conversely, when the consumption of items is low, when the storage container is changed, the storage container with a large number of items remaining is recycled, reducing the efficiency of the replenishment operation. In addition, for example, when the consumption of each item in a storage container containing a variety of different items is uneven, when the storage container is changed, the storage container with a large number of items remaining is recycled, reducing the efficiency of the replenishment operation. Furthermore, when using a picking robot for replenishment, the more items with high picking costs are replenished, the lower the operation efficiency becomes. In contrast, according to the management device 1, the replenishment method is flexibly switched according to the consumption status of the items. Therefore, inefficient replenishment can be suppressed.

[0050] Next, the implementation method will be described in detail.

[0051] <Implementation Method 1>

[0052] First, implementation method 1 will be described. Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of the structure of the item management system 10 according to Embodiment 1. The item management system 10 is a system that processes the replenishment of consumed items when items stored in a storage container are consumed. Furthermore, in this embodiment, as an example, the storage container is a storage box described later, but the storage container is only required to hold items and is not limited to this.

[0053] like Figure 3 As shown, the goods management system 10 includes a management device 100, a picking robot 200, and a transport robot 300. The management device 100 is wirelessly or wiredly connected to the picking robot 200 and the transport robot 300, respectively, in a communicable manner. Furthermore, if needed, the picking robot 200 and the transport robot 300 can also be wirelessly or wiredly connected in a communicable manner.

[0054] Management device 100 and Figure 1 The corresponding management device 100 is a device for controlling the replenishment of items stored in the storage box. Details of the management device 100 will be described later. Items used by the user are stored in the storage box. The items stored in the storage box are consumable items such as food and daily necessities. The user takes out the items stored in the storage box for use. As a result, the number of items stored in the storage box decreases. In this embodiment, the storage box is housed, for example, on a shelf placed in the user's living space, but the storage box may not necessarily be housed on a shelf.

[0055] Figure 4 This is a schematic front view illustrating an example of the structure of a shelf 50 that houses storage boxes. Shelf 50 is a shelf for housing storage boxes, for example, installed within a living space of a house. Furthermore, in this specification, "house" includes basic residential buildings, office buildings, etc., and "living space" includes office space. Figure 4 As shown, the shelf 50 includes storage boxes 60a to 60c for storing consumable items. The storage boxes 60a to 60c have different sizes. Hereinafter, unless specifically distinguished, the storage boxes 60a to 60c will be referred to as storage box 60.

[0056] like Figure 4 As shown, the shelf 50 includes a frame 51, a partition 52, a track 53, and a locking mechanism 54.

[0057] also, Figure 4 The right-handed xyz orthogonal coordinate system shown is for illustrating the positional relationships of the constituent elements. Typically, the positive z-axis points vertically upwards, and the xy-plane is horizontal. Additionally, Figure 4 The main view is shown, but for ease of understanding, the storage box 60 is indicated by a shaded line. Furthermore, Figure 4 The structure of the shelf 50 shown is just one example; other shelves with structures capable of accommodating storage boxes can also be used.

[0058] The frame 51 forms the outer frame of the shelf 50. Figure 4 In the example shown, the frame 51 has a frame structure that integrally forms a top plate on the positive z-axis side, a bottom plate on the negative z-axis side, and side panels on the positive y-axis and y-axis sides. That is, the front and back of the frame 51 are open to allow the storage box 60 to enter and exit.

[0059] Alternatively, doors that can be opened and closed can be provided on the front and back of the open frame 51. Alternatively, the front or back of the frame 51 can also be closed.

[0060] like Figure 4 As shown, the partition 52 is configured to be parallel to the side panel constituting the frame 51 (i.e., parallel to the xz plane) and extends from the front to the back of the open frame 51.

[0061] Here, the partition 52 is configured such that the spacing between the side panel of the frame 51 and the adjacent partition 52 is equal to the spacing between the partitions 52.

[0062] In addition, Figure 4 In the example, two partitions 52 are provided, and there are three columns of storage boxes 60, but the number of partitions 52 is not limited. Alternatively, partitions 52 can be omitted, and the storage boxes 60 can be arranged in one column.

[0063] like Figure 4 As shown, multiple pairs of tracks 53 extend along the depth direction (x-axis direction) in the inner surface of the frame 51 and the partition 52, and are arranged side-by-side at equal intervals in the height direction (z-axis direction). Here, the tracks 53 are configured to rise approximately vertically from the inner surface of the frame 51 and the partition 52. Figure 4 In the example, there are 4 pairs of tracks 53 in each column, which can accommodate 4 minimum-sized storage boxes 60a in each column.

[0064] Furthermore, there is no limitation on the number of tracks 53. Also, as long as the tracks 53 can support the storage box 60, they can be provided discontinuously in the depth direction (x-axis direction). Alternatively, short support bodies can be arranged in the depth direction (x-axis direction) instead of tracks 53.

[0065] Flanges 61 are provided on both sides of the storage box 60, and the flanges 61 are supported from below by a pair of adjacent and opposing rails 53, thereby supporting the storage box 60 in the shelf 50. Furthermore, the flanges 61 are protrusions that project outwards from the storage box 60 in the width direction. The flanges 61 are provided on both sides of the storage box 60 from the front to the back. The storage box 60 can be moved in and out by sliding the flanges 61 on the pair of rails 53.

[0066] In this way, the shelf 50 can support and accommodate all the storage boxes 60 of a pre-defined number of sizes in a manner that allows them to slide along each pair of tracks 53.

[0067] A locking mechanism 54 is provided on the upper side of each pair of tracks 53. The locking mechanism 54 can lock the storage box 60 housed in the shelf 50 and its lid (not shown) to the frame 51, preventing the theft of the storage box 60 and the consumables stored inside. Alternatively, the shelf 50 may not necessarily have the locking mechanism 54. Furthermore, the storage box 60 may not necessarily have a lid.

[0068] In this embodiment, the width in the y-axis direction and the depth in the x-axis direction of the pre-defined multiple sizes of storage boxes 60a to 60c are common. However, the heights in the z-axis direction of the storage boxes 60a to 60c are different. The height of the smallest storage box 60a is designed according to the spacing between adjacent tracks 53 in the z-axis direction. Naturally, the height of the smallest storage box 60a is smaller than the spacing between the tracks 53. The height of the intermediate-sized storage box 60b is designed to be approximately twice the height of the storage box 60a. Furthermore, the height of the largest storage box 60c is designed to be approximately three times the height of the storage box 60a.

[0069] That is, the height of the storage boxes 60a to 60c of multiple pre-defined sizes is designed to be approximately an integer multiple of the interval between adjacent tracks 53 in the z-axis direction.

[0070] In addition, Figure 4 In the example shown, the storage boxes come in three sizes, but they can also come in one, two, or more than four sizes. Figure 4 In the example, in addition to storage boxes 60a to 60c, another storage box with a height approximately four times that of storage box 60a can also be set up.

[0071] The storage box 60 contains consumable items such as food and daily necessities. The consumable items stored inside the storage box 60 are replenished at predetermined times using either the first replenishment method or the second replenishment method.

[0072] Next, the picking robot 200 will be described. The picking robot 200 is a robot that selects items and replenishes them into the storage bin 60 based on the instructions of the management device 100.

[0073] Figure 5 This is a schematic side view illustrating an example of the structure of a picking robot 200.

[0074] The picking robot 200 is a manipulator comprising a base 201, a link root 202, a first link 203, a second link 204, and an end effector 205. The picking robot 200 uses the end effector 205 to pick up items 90 and place them into a storage box 60. Figure 5 The illustration shows the process of placing item 90 from storage box 70 (used for delivering item 90) into storage box 60. Alternatively, storage box 60 can also be used as storage box 70 for delivering items. Furthermore, item 90 may be pre-placed in storage box 70, such as in a logistics center.

[0075] Furthermore, the structure of the end effector 205 is not limited as long as it can select an item. For example, the end effector 205 can select the item by grasping it or by suction. Additionally, in Figure 5 In the example shown, the linkage mechanism consists of two links, the first link 203 and the second link 204, but the linkage mechanism can also consist of more than three links.

[0076] The base 201 can be fixed in any position. For example, the base 201 can be fixed to the top plate of the frame 51 that constitutes the shelf 50, or it can be fixed to the wall or floor in the living space of the house.

[0077] The connecting rod root 202 is connected to the base 201 via the rotation axis 202a in a manner that allows it to rotate about the rotation axis 202a. The rotation axis 202a of the connecting rod root 202 is an axis perpendicular to the plane on which the base 201 is fixed. The connecting rod root 202 is driven to rotate by a motor or the like (not shown).

[0078] The first link 203 is rotatably connected to the link root 202 via a first joint 203a located at the rear end of the first link 203. The second link 204 is rotatably connected to the front end of the first link 203 via a second joint 204a located at the rear end of the second link 204. An end effector 205 is connected to the front end of the second link 204.

[0079] Here, the rotation axis of the first joint 203a and the second joint 204a is an axis parallel to the surface on which the base 201 is fixed. Figure 5 In the example shown, the height of the end effector 205 can be changed by rotating the first link 203 and the second link 204. The first link 203 and the second link 204 are driven to rotate by a motor or the like (not shown).

[0080] With this structure, the picking robot 200 can replenish the item 90 into the storage box 60.

[0081] Furthermore, although not shown in the figure, the picking robot 200 is equipped with a processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and a memory that stores various control programs and data. That is, the picking robot 200 functions as a computer, performing various control processes based on the aforementioned control programs.

[0082] Next, the transport robot 300 will be described. The transport robot 300 is a robot that transports storage boxes 60 and 70 based on instructions from the management device 100.

[0083] In this embodiment, the transport robot 300 performs the following transport operations to replenish items via the picking robot 200: The transport robot 300 transports storage boxes 60 housed in the shelf 50 to the working area of ​​the picking robot 200. Additionally, the transport robot 300 transports storage boxes 70 pre-filled with items from a predetermined location such as a logistics center to the working area of ​​the picking robot 200. Furthermore, when the replenishment operation performed by the picking robot 200 is completed, the transport robot 300 transports the replenished storage boxes 60 to a predetermined storage location on the shelf 50. Additionally, it transports storage boxes 70 containing removed items to a predetermined location such as a logistics center.

[0084] In this embodiment, the transport robot 300 performs the following transport operation to replenish the stockpiled storage boxes 60 containing a predetermined number of items by replacing them with storage boxes 60 containing a predetermined number of items: The transport robot 300 transports storage boxes 60 containing a predetermined number of items from a predetermined location such as a logistics center to a predetermined storage location on the shelf 50. Additionally, the transport robot 300 transports the replacement storage boxes 60 stored on the shelf 50 to the predetermined location such as a logistics center.

[0085] Alternatively, multiple transport robots 300 can relay the storage boxes, thereby transporting them. For example, transport robots 300 responsible for transporting between the logistics center and the vicinity of the living space, and transport robots 300 that transport within the living space, can also be used to achieve the transport.

[0086] Thus, in this embodiment, while using the transport robot 300 to transport the storage boxes, supplementation can be achieved through a picking robot or by replacing the storage boxes. However, it is not always necessary to use the transport robot 300. That is, the transport of the storage boxes can also be performed by a person (operator).

[0087] Figure 6 This is a schematic side view illustrating an example of the structure of the transport robot 300. Figure 6 The transport robot 300 shown is an autonomous vehicle that picks up and places storage boxes 60 from the shelf 50 and transports the storage boxes 60. In addition, the transport robot 300 can also perform the same operation on the storage boxes 70.

[0088] like Figure 6 As shown, the transport robot 300 has wheels 301 and 302, a main body 303, a top plate 304, and a support column 305.

[0089] Two pairs of wheels 301 and 302 are fixed to the lower side of the main body 303 in a rotatable manner and are driven by a drive source (not shown) such as a motor.

[0090] like Figure 6 As shown, the top plate 304 is connected to the main body 303 via a telescopic support column 305. The top plate 304 is connected to the upper end of the support column 305, and the transport robot 300 places the storage box 60 on the top plate 304 and transports the storage box 60.

[0091] The support column 305, for example, has a telescopic mechanism that extends and retracts via a drive source (not shown) such as a motor. (As in...) Figure 6 As indicated by the blank arrow, the height of the top plate 304 can be changed by altering the length of the support column 305. Therefore, the storage box 60 can be placed or removed from all storage locations on the shelf 50.

[0092] Here, the transport robot 300, for example, is equipped with a manipulator (not shown) to move the storage box 60 from the shelf 50 to the top plate 304. Furthermore, the manipulator also moves the storage box 60 on the top plate 304 to the shelf 50.

[0093] Furthermore, although not shown in the figure, the transport robot 300 also includes, for example, a processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and a memory that stores various control programs and data. That is, the transport robot 300 also functions as a computer, performing various control processes based on the aforementioned control programs.

[0094] Next, the management device 100 will be described in detail. Figure 7 This is a block diagram illustrating an example of the functional structure of the management device 100. For example... Figure 7 As shown, the management device 100 includes an information acquisition unit 101, a supplementary decision unit 102, and an instruction unit 103.

[0095] Information Acquisition Department 101 and Figure 1 Corresponding to the information acquisition unit 2. The information acquisition unit 101 acquires consumption information, which indicates the amount of items stored in the storage box 60 consumed. For example, the information acquisition unit 101 acquires consumption information regarding the selected storage box in the storage box 60 stored in the shelf 50. Furthermore, this selection can be made according to a predetermined selection rule, for example, the storage boxes 60 stored in the shelf 50 are selected in sequence. When different items are stored in a storage box 60, the information acquisition unit 101 acquires information indicating the amount of each item consumed as consumption information. The consumption information is updated periodically, for example, and the information acquisition unit 101 acquires the consumption information periodically.

[0096] The information acquisition unit 101 can acquire consumption information by any method. For example, the information acquisition unit 101 can acquire consumption information by receiving it from any other device, or by reading it from a storage device such as the memory of the management device 100. Furthermore, the consumption information can be generated in advance by any method. For example, the consumption information can be generated by performing image recognition processing on an image captured by a camera inside the storage box 60 to identify the remaining items. In this case, the management device 100 can also receive an image captured by a camera inside the storage box 60 and generate the consumption information. That is, the management device 100 can also have a consumption information generation unit that parses the received image to generate the consumption information. Furthermore, the method for generating consumption information is not limited to the methods described above. For example, consumption information can also be generated based on the quantity of consumed items input by the user via an input device such as a keyboard or pointing device. In this case, the management device 100 also generates the consumption information.

[0097] Supplementary Decision Department 102 and Figure 1 The replenishment decision unit 3 corresponds to this. Based on the consumption information obtained by the information acquisition unit 101, the replenishment decision unit 102 decides whether to use the picking robot 200 to individually replenish the items to the storage box 60, or to replace the storage box 60 where items have been consumed with a storage box 60 containing a predetermined number of items. In other words, based on the consumption information obtained by the information acquisition unit 101, the replenishment decision unit 102 decides which of the first and second replenishment methods described above should be used to replenish the items.

[0098] In this embodiment, the replenishment decision unit 102 determines whether to replenish the items using the first replenishment method or the second replenishment method based on the amount of consumption determined according to the consumption information. Specifically, if the amount of consumption determined according to the consumption information is less than a predetermined threshold, the replenishment decision unit 102 decides to replenish the items using the first replenishment method. That is, in this case, the replenishment decision unit 102 decides to use the picking robot 200 to individually replenish the items in the storage boxes 60 where the items have been consumed (i.e., the storage boxes 60 where the amount of items consumed has been determined). Conversely, if the amount of consumption determined according to the consumption information is greater than or equal to the predetermined threshold, the replenishment decision unit 102 decides to replenish the items using the second replenishment method. That is, in this case, the replenishment decision unit 102 decides to replenish the items by replacing the storage boxes 60 where the items have been consumed with storage boxes 60 containing a predetermined number of items.

[0099] Furthermore, when different items are stored together in a storage box 60, the consumption amount compared to a predetermined threshold is, for example, the total consumption of all items stored together in the storage box 60. However, when different items are stored together in a storage box 60, the consumption amount compared to the predetermined threshold can also be the consumption amount of any single item of interest. In this case, if the consumption amount is less than the predetermined threshold, the picking robot 200 is used to replenish not only the item of interest but also other items.

[0100] The instruction unit 103 outputs instructions for replenishing items according to the replenishment method determined by the replenishment decision unit 102. That is, when the instruction unit 103 determines that replenishment will be carried out using the first replenishment method, it outputs instructions for replenishing items individually. Specifically, in this case, for example, the instruction unit 103 instructs the picking robot 200 to move consumed items from the storage bin 70 where items were pre-placed to the storage bin 60 where items were consumed. Furthermore, before instructing the picking robot 200, the instruction unit 103 may also instruct the transport robot 300 to move the storage bin 60 where items were consumed to the picking robot 200's work area. Similarly, the instruction unit 103 may also instruct the transport robot 300 to move the storage bin 70 where items were pre-placed in a predetermined location such as a logistics center to the picking robot 200's work area. In addition, after the picking robot 200 has completed its work, the instruction unit 103 can instruct the transport robot 300 to transport the storage box 70 to a predetermined location such as a logistics center, or instruct the transport robot 300 to transport the replenished storage box 60 to the shelf 50.

[0101] Furthermore, when the instruction unit 103 determines that replenishment will be carried out using the second replenishment method, it outputs an instruction for replacing the storage box 60. Specifically, in this case, for example, the instruction unit 103 instructs the transport robot 300 to move the storage box 60, in which items have been pre-placed in a predetermined location such as a logistics center, to the shelf 50. Additionally, the instruction unit 103 instructs the transport robot 300 to move the consumed storage box 60 from the shelf 50 to a predetermined location such as a logistics center.

[0102] Figure 8 This is a block diagram illustrating an example of the hardware structure of the management device 100. For example... Figure 8 As shown, the management device 100 includes a network interface 151, a memory 152, and a processor 153.

[0103] Network interface 151 is used to communicate with any device such as picking robot 200 and conveying robot 300. Network interface 151 may also include, for example, a network interface card (NIC).

[0104] The memory 152 is constructed, for example, by a combination of volatile memory and non-volatile memory. The memory 152 is used to store programs executed by the processor 153 and data used in various processes of the management device 100.

[0105] Processor 153 executes the program by reading it from memory 152. Figure 7 The processor 153 can be, for example, a microprocessor, an MPU (Micro Processor Unit), or a CPU (Central Processing Unit). The processor 153 may also include multiple processors.

[0106] In this way, the management device 100 has the function of a computer.

[0107] The program includes a set of commands (or software code) for causing the computer to perform one or more of the functions described in the embodiments, when read by the computer. The program may also be stored on a non-transitory computer-readable medium or a physical storage medium. As non-limiting examples, computer-readable media or physical storage media include random-access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), flash memory, solid-state drive (SSD) or other memory technologies, CD-ROM, digital versatile disc (DVD), Blu-ray disc or other optical disc storage, magnetic tape, magnetic tape, disk storage, or other magnetic storage devices. The program may also be transmitted on a transient computer-readable medium or communication medium. As non-limiting examples, transient computer-readable media or communication media include electrical, optical, acoustic, or other forms of propagated signals.

[0108] Next, the operation process of the management device 100 will be explained. Figure 9 This is a flowchart illustrating an example of the operation of the management device 100. The following is a description of... Figure 9 The operating procedure of the management device 100 is explained.

[0109] In step S100, the information acquisition unit 101 acquires consumption information about the storage box 60 housed in the shelf 50.

[0110] Next, in step S101, the replenishment decision unit 102 compares the consumption amount determined based on the consumption information obtained in step S100 with a predetermined threshold. If the consumption amount determined based on the consumption information is less than the predetermined threshold (step S101: No), the replenishment decision unit 102 decides to replenish the item using the first replenishment method. In this case, the process proceeds to step S102. Conversely, if the consumption amount determined based on the consumption information is greater than or equal to the predetermined threshold (step S101: Yes), the replenishment decision unit 102 decides to replenish the item using the second replenishment method. In this case, the process proceeds to step S103.

[0111] In step S102, the instruction unit 103 outputs an instruction for individually replenishing the items.

[0112] In contrast, in step S103, the indicator unit 103 outputs an instruction for replacing the storage box 60.

[0113] The above describes Implementation Method 1. In this implementation, the replenishment method is determined based on the amount of consumption determined according to consumption information. That is, it is possible to switch between replacing the storage box itself or individually replenishing the items via the picking robot 200, depending on the amount of consumption. For example, if the storage box is replaced despite a large amount of items remaining, the large amount of items will be returned to a predetermined location such as a logistics center along with the storage box. In contrast, in this implementation, as described above, the replenishment method is switched based on the amount of consumption, thus preventing the replacement of storage boxes with a large amount of items remaining. Therefore, inefficient replenishment can be suppressed.

[0114] <Implementation Method 2>

[0115] Next, Embodiment 2 will be described. The method of determining the replenishment method based on consumption information in this embodiment differs from that in Embodiment 1 described above. Specifically, in this embodiment, the replenishment method is determined based on the magnitude of the unevenness in the consumption of each item, as determined by the consumption information. The differences from Embodiment 1 will be explained below, with repetitive descriptions omitted where appropriate.

[0116] The item management system involved in this embodiment has the same system structure as that in embodiment 1, except that the management device 100 is replaced by the management device 100a. Figure 10 This is a block diagram illustrating an example of the functional structure of the management device 100a according to Embodiment 2. For example... Figure 10As shown, the management device 100a includes an information acquisition unit 101, an unevenness calculation unit 104, a supplementary decision unit 102a, and an instruction unit 103. That is, the management device 100a differs from the management device 100 of Embodiment 1 in that it adds an unevenness calculation unit 104 and replaces the supplementary decision unit 102a with the supplementary decision unit 102a.

[0117] The unevenness calculation unit 104 calculates the magnitude of the unevenness in the consumption of each item based on the consumption information. That is, the unevenness calculation unit 104 calculates the magnitude of the unevenness in the consumption of each item stored together in a storage box 60. This calculation can also be described as calculating the magnitude of the unevenness in the amount of each item that should be replenished. In this embodiment, the unevenness calculation unit 104 calculates the magnitude of the unevenness in the consumption of each item as an example, as follows. Figure 11 This is a table used to explain the calculation of the size of the unevenness. Furthermore, in Figure 11 The example shown is an instance where four items, A to D, are pre-stored in a storage box 60, which is the target of the replenishment method. The unevenness calculation unit 104, based on the consumption information obtained by the information acquisition unit 101, first determines the remaining ratio of each item. The remaining ratio is expressed as the ratio of the current quantity of the item to the quantity of that item in the initial state. That is, the remaining ratio is expressed as the ratio of the quantity of items remaining in the storage box, which is the target of the replenishment method, to the quantity of items pre-stored in that storage box. Next, the unevenness calculation unit 104 calculates the standard deviation of the remaining ratio of each item to represent the magnitude of the unevenness in the consumption of each item. Alternatively, the unevenness calculation unit 104 can also calculate the standard deviation using an index value calculated based on the remaining ratio. For example, the unevenness calculation unit 104 can also use the following formula to calculate the index value based on the remaining ratio. Here, R1 is the remaining ratio (remaining ratio expressed as a decimal), and R2 is the index value.

[0118] R2 = (1 - R1) × 10

[0119] Thus, in this embodiment, the non-uniformity calculation unit 104 specifically calculates the non-uniformity of the residual ratio. Furthermore, the above-described method for calculating non-uniformity is merely one example; the non-uniformity calculation unit 104 can also calculate the magnitude of non-uniformity using other methods. Additionally, for example, the standard deviation can be calculated after weighting the index value R2 of each item according to the item. Moreover, the weighting value can also be specified by the user.

[0120] Supplementary Decision Department 102a and Figure 1The replenishment decision unit 3 corresponds to this. The replenishment decision unit 102a also determines which of the first and second replenishment methods to use to replenish the items based on the consumption information obtained by the information acquisition unit 101. However, the replenishment decision unit 102a determines which of the first and second replenishment methods to use to replenish the items based on the magnitude of the unevenness in the consumption of each item, determined according to the consumption information. Specifically, if the magnitude of the unevenness calculated by the unevenness calculation unit 104 is above a predetermined threshold, the replenishment decision unit 102a decides to replenish the items using the first replenishment method. That is, in this case, the replenishment decision unit 102a decides to use the picking robot 200 to individually replenish the items in the storage boxes 60 where the items have been consumed (i.e., the storage boxes 60 where the consumption of the items has been determined). Conversely, if the magnitude of the unevenness calculated by the unevenness calculation unit 104 is less than a predetermined threshold, the replenishment decision unit 102a decides to replenish the items using the second replenishment method. That is, in this case, the replenishment decision unit 102a decides to replenish the items by replacing the storage box 60 where the items have been consumed with a storage box 60 that contains a predetermined number of items.

[0121] Next, the operation flow of the management device 100a will be explained. Figure 12 This is a flowchart illustrating an example of the operation of the management device 100a. The following is a description of... Figure 12 The operating procedure of the management device 100a is explained.

[0122] In step S200, the information acquisition unit 101 acquires consumption information about the storage box 60 housed in the shelf 50.

[0123] Next, in step S201, the unevenness calculation unit 104 calculates the unevenness of consumption of each item based on the consumption information obtained in step S200.

[0124] Next, in step S202, the replenishment decision unit 102a compares the size of the unevenness calculated in step S201 with a predetermined threshold. If the size of the unevenness is above the predetermined threshold (step S202: Yes), the replenishment decision unit 102a decides to replenish the item using the first replenishment method. In this case, the process proceeds to step S203. Conversely, if the size of the unevenness is below the predetermined threshold (step S202: No), the replenishment decision unit 102a decides to replenish the item using the second replenishment method. In this case, the process proceeds to step S204.

[0125] In step S203, the instruction unit 103 outputs an instruction for individually replenishing the items.

[0126] In contrast, in step S204, the indicator unit 103 outputs an instruction for replacing the storage box 60.

[0127] The above describes Embodiment 2. In this embodiment, the replenishment method is determined based on the magnitude of the unevenness in the consumption of each item, as determined by the consumption information. That is, the method can be switched between replacing the storage box itself and individually replenishing the items by the picking robot 200, depending on the magnitude of the unevenness. Therefore, according to this embodiment, it is possible to avoid replacing the storage container with a large amount of remaining items. Thus, inefficient replenishment can be suppressed. Furthermore, the replenishment determination unit 102a can also determine the replenishment method based on the magnitude of the unevenness in consumption and the magnitude of consumption. That is, the method of determining the replenishment method in this embodiment can also be combined with the method of determining the replenishment method in Embodiment 1. For example, if the magnitude of the unevenness in the consumption of each item is less than a predetermined threshold (first threshold), the replenishment determination unit 102a may not necessarily decide to replenish the items by the second replenishment method (i.e., replacing the storage box), but may further decide whether to use the replenishment achieved by the second replenishment method based on the magnitude of consumption. That is, in such a case, the replenishment decision unit 102a may also decide to replenish the items by the second replenishment method (i.e., replacing the storage box) only when the amount of consumption exceeds a predetermined threshold (the second threshold). In this way, it is possible to avoid replacing the storage box when almost no items have been consumed.

[0128] <Implementation Method 3>

[0129] Next, Embodiment 3 will be described. This embodiment also differs from Embodiment 1 in that it determines the replenishment method based on consumption information. Specifically, in this embodiment, as described later, the replenishment method is determined based on the operating cost calculated according to the characteristics of the item and consumption information. The differences from Embodiment 1 will be explained below, with repetitive descriptions omitted where appropriate.

[0130] The item management system involved in this embodiment has the same system structure as that in embodiment 1, except that the management device 100 is replaced by the management device 100b. Figure 13 This is a block diagram illustrating an example of the functional structure of the management device 100b according to Embodiment 3. For example... Figure 13 As shown, the management device 100b includes an information acquisition unit 101a, a cost calculation unit 105, a supplementary decision unit 102b, and an instruction unit 103. That is, the management device 100b differs from the management device 100 of Embodiment 1 in that it adds a cost calculation unit 105, replaces the information acquisition unit 101 with the information acquisition unit 101a, and replaces the supplementary decision unit 102 with the supplementary decision unit 102b.

[0131] Information acquisition unit 101a differs from the aforementioned information acquisition unit 101 in that it acquires not only consumption information but also feature information representing the characteristics of each item. Here, the characteristics of an item refer to features related to the ease or difficulty of selecting the item by the picking robot 200. Specifically, the feature information can also be information about a predetermined attribute (i.e., the attribute value of a predetermined attribute) that influences the ease or difficulty of selecting the item by the picking robot 200. Furthermore, the attribute value can be data, not limited to numerical values. For example, the predetermined attribute can be the weight of the item, the material of the item, or the shape of the item. That is, the feature information can be information representing the weight of the item, information representing the material of the item, or information representing the shape of the item. The feature information can include only some of these or all of them. Additionally, the feature information can also specifically be the ease or difficulty of selecting the item by the picking robot 200 itself. In this case, the feature information represents the ease or difficulty of selecting the item by the picking robot 200, that is, the operating cost of selecting one item by the picking robot 200. Furthermore, the operating cost (difficulty) is defined based on the attribute values ​​of the aforementioned predetermined attributes that influence the difficulty of selecting items.

[0132] The greater the weight of an item, the more difficult it is for the picking robot 200 to pick it up. Furthermore, the relationship between the material of the item and the difficulty of picking it up is as follows: The more easily a material slides, the more difficult it is for the picking robot 200 to pick it up. Also, the more easily a material deforms, the more difficult it is for the picking robot 200 to pick it up. Additionally, if the item is made of a material with small bumps or irregularities, such as fabric, the picking robot 200, which picks up items by adsorption, will have a high difficulty in picking it up. This is because such materials are difficult to adsorb. Furthermore, the relationship between the shape of the item and the difficulty of picking it up is as follows: For example, the more easily a shape rolls, the more difficult it is for the picking robot 200 to pick it up. This is because in such shapes, the item will move when the end effector 205 touches the item during picking. The attributes that affect the difficulty of picking are not limited to the attributes mentioned above. For example, feature information may also include other information such as information indicating the size of the item. In addition, the attribute values ​​of the predefined attributes are predefined for each item.

[0133] The information acquisition unit 101a can acquire the feature information pre-made for each item by any method. For example, the information acquisition unit 101a can acquire the feature information by receiving it from any other device, or by reading it from a storage device such as the memory of the management device 100b.

[0134] The cost calculation unit 105 calculates the operating cost of the picking robot 200 for replenishment by the picking robot 200 based on the characteristics and consumption information of the items. When the information acquisition unit 101a obtains information representing the attribute values ​​of predetermined attributes of each item as feature information, the cost calculation unit 105 first determines the operating cost for the picking robot 200 to pick up one item per item based on the feature information (specifically, attribute values). Figure 14 This is a table showing specific examples of how to determine the activity cost used to select an item. Figure 14 In the example shown, the sum of the weight-based operating cost C1, the material-based operating cost C2, and the shape-based operating cost C3 corresponds to the operating cost of picking an item. The cost calculation unit 105 determines the operating cost, for example, using a predefined lookup table that associates attribute values ​​with operating costs, based on the attribute values ​​obtained by the information acquisition unit 101a. Furthermore, the cost calculation unit 105 preferably determines the operating cost based on the specifications of the picking robot 200. This is because even for the same item, the ease of picking varies depending on the specifications of the picking robot 200. Therefore, for example, the cost calculation unit 105 determines the picking operating cost by referring to a lookup table corresponding to the specifications of the picking robot 200. Additionally, as described above, the information acquisition unit 101a can also obtain the operating cost itself for picking an item (each value of C1 to C3 or the sum of C1 to C3) as feature information. In this case, the aforementioned process, i.e., the process of determining the operating cost based on attribute values, is omitted.

[0135] The cost calculation unit 105 calculates the operating cost of replenishing the storage box 60 using the first replenishment method by performing calculations using the operating cost of selecting an item and the quantity of items that should be replenished based on consumption information. Specifically, the cost calculation unit 105 calculates the operating cost of the picking robot 200 for implementing the first replenishment method (replenishment by the picking robot 200) as follows: The cost calculation unit 105 calculates the product of the operating cost of selecting an item and the quantity of items consumed (the quantity of items that should be replenished) for each item, and further calculates the sum of the calculated results of each item's product. This sum represents the operating cost of the picking robot 200 for implementing the first replenishment method (replenishment by the picking robot 200).

[0136] Figure 15 and Figure 16 This is a table showing specific examples of calculated activity costs. In Figure 15 and Figure 16 In the example shown, the supplementary storage box is storage box 60, which contains four items: A, B, C, and D. Figure 14As shown, the cost of selecting an item A is 15, the cost of selecting an item B is 7, the cost of selecting an item C is 2, and the cost of selecting an item D is 5.

[0137] exist Figure 15 In the example shown, based on the consumption information obtained by the information acquisition unit 101a for the storage box 60, it is determined that only two of item C were consumed. That is, in Figure 15 In the example shown, it is assumed that compared to the initial state, only 2 units of item C have been consumed. Therefore, in Figure 15 In the example shown, the only item to be replenished is item C, and the quantity to be replenished is 2. In this case, the operation cost of replenishing the storage box using the first replenishment method is calculated by multiplying the operation cost of selecting one item C (i.e., 2) by the quantity to be replenished (i.e., 2). Through this calculation, the cost calculation unit 105 outputs 4 as the operation cost of replenishing the storage box using the first replenishment method.

[0138] Similarly, in Figure 16 In the example shown, based on the consumption information obtained by the information acquisition unit 101a from the storage box 60, it is determined that item A was consumed 1 unit and item B was consumed 2 units. That is, in Figure 16 The example shown assumes that, compared to the initial state, item A has been consumed by 1 unit, and item B has been consumed by 2 units. Therefore, in Figure 16 In the example shown, the items to be replenished are item A and item B, and the quantity to be replenished is 1 for item A and 2 for item B. In this case, the operation cost of replenishing the storage box using the first replenishment method is calculated by summing the operation cost required to replenish item A and the operation cost required to replenish item B. The operation cost required to replenish item A is calculated by multiplying the operation cost of selecting one item A (i.e., 15) by the quantity to be replenished (i.e., 1). Similarly, the operation cost required to replenish item B is calculated by multiplying the operation cost of selecting one item B (i.e., 7) by the quantity to be replenished (i.e., 2). Through these calculations, the cost calculation unit 105 outputs 29 as the operation cost for replenishing the storage box using the first replenishment method.

[0139] Supplementary Decision Department 102b and Figure 1The replenishment decision unit 3 corresponds to this. The replenishment decision unit 102b also determines which of the first and second replenishment methods to use to replenish the items based on the consumption information obtained by the information acquisition unit 101. However, more specifically, the replenishment decision unit 102b determines which of the first and second replenishment methods to use to replenish the items based on the operating cost of the picking robot 200 used for replenishment (replenishment achieved through the first replenishment method). That is, the replenishment decision unit 102b determines the replenishment method based on the operating cost calculated by the cost calculation unit 105. Specifically, if the operating cost calculated by the cost calculation unit 105 is less than a predetermined threshold, the replenishment decision unit 102b decides to replenish the items using the first replenishment method. That is, in this case, the replenishment decision unit 102b decides to use the picking robot 200 to individually replenish the items in the storage boxes 60 where the items have been consumed (i.e., the storage boxes 60 where the consumption amount of the items has been determined). In contrast, if the operating cost calculated by the cost calculation unit 105 is above a predetermined threshold, the replenishment decision unit 102b decides to replenish the items using the second replenishment method. That is, in this case, the replenishment decision unit 102b decides to replenish the items by replacing the storage box 60 where the items have been consumed with a storage box 60 that contains a predetermined number of items. For example, if the predetermined threshold value is 10, in... Figure 15 In the example shown, it becomes supplemented through the first supplementary method, in Figure 16 In the example shown, it becomes supplemented through the second supplementary method.

[0140] Next, the operation process of the management device 100b will be explained. Figure 17 This is a flowchart illustrating an example of the operation of the management device 100b. The following is a description of... Figure 17 The operating procedure of the management device 100b is explained.

[0141] In step S300, the information acquisition unit 101a acquires consumption information about the storage box 60 housed in the shelf 50.

[0142] Next, in step S301, the information acquisition unit 101a acquires the feature information of the items stored in the storage box 60. Furthermore, steps S300 and S301 can be performed in reverse order or simultaneously.

[0143] Next, in step S302, the cost calculation unit 105 uses the consumption information obtained in step S300 and the feature information obtained in step S301 to calculate the operation cost.

[0144] Next, in step S303, the replenishment decision unit 102b compares the operating cost calculated in step S302 with a predetermined threshold. If the operating cost is less than the predetermined threshold (step S303: No), the replenishment decision unit 102b decides to replenish the item using the first replenishment method. In this case, the process proceeds to step S304. Conversely, if the operating cost is greater than or equal to the predetermined threshold (step S303: Yes), the replenishment decision unit 102b decides to replenish the item using the second replenishment method. In this case, the process proceeds to step S305.

[0145] In step S304, the instruction unit 103 outputs an instruction for individually replenishing the items.

[0146] In contrast, in step S305, the indicator unit 103 outputs an instruction for replacing the storage box 60.

[0147] The above describes Embodiment 3. In this embodiment, the replenishment method is determined based on the operating cost of the picking robot 200. That is, it is possible to switch between replacing the storage box itself or individually replenishing items via the picking robot 200, depending on the operating cost. Therefore, according to this embodiment, the replenishment method is switched according to the operating cost of the picking robot 200. Thus, from the viewpoint of the operating cost of the picking robot 200, inefficient replenishment can be suppressed. Furthermore, as described above, the replenishment determination unit 102b can also determine the replenishment method based on the operating cost corresponding to the weight of the item. In this case, the replenishment method can be determined considering the operating cost of the picking robot 200 due to its weight. Furthermore, as described above, the replenishment determination unit 102b can also determine the replenishment method based on the operating cost corresponding to the material of the item. In this case, the replenishment method can be determined considering the operating cost of the picking robot 200 due to its material. Furthermore, as described above, the replenishment determination unit 102b can also determine the replenishment method based on the operating cost corresponding to the shape of the item. In this case, the supplementary method can be determined by taking into account the operating cost of the picking robot 200 caused by the shape.

[0148] Furthermore, the replenishment decision unit 102b can also determine the replenishment method based on the magnitude of the consumption unevenness and the operating cost. That is, the replenishment method determination method of this embodiment can also be combined with the replenishment method determination method of Embodiment 2. For example, the replenishment decision unit 102b can also use the value of the operating cost, the value of the magnitude of the consumption unevenness of each item, and a predetermined threshold to determine the replenishment method. Specifically, for example, the replenishment decision unit 102b can decide to perform replenishment by the second replenishment method if the value obtained by subtracting the magnitude of the unevenness from the value of the operating cost is above the predetermined threshold, and decide to perform replenishment by the first replenishment method if the value is below the predetermined threshold. In this way, the efficiency of replenishment operations that take into account both operating costs and unevenness can be achieved.

[0149] Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and appropriate modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, in order to reflect the user's expectations for the supplementary method, the values ​​of the thresholds mentioned in each embodiment can also be set according to the user's expectations.

[0150] Based on the disclosure described herein, it will be apparent that embodiments of this disclosure can be varied in many ways. These variations should not be considered a departure from the spirit and scope of this disclosure, and all such variations, which will be apparent to those skilled in the art, are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A management device, comprising: The information acquisition unit acquires consumption information, which indicates the amount of each item consumed when stored together in a storage container; and The replenishment decision unit decides to use a picking robot to individually replenish the consumed items into the storage container if the unevenness in the consumption of each item, as determined based on the consumption information, is greater than or equal to a predetermined first threshold. If the unevenness is less than the first threshold and the total consumption of each item, as determined based on the consumption information, exceeds a predetermined second threshold, the unit decides not to use the picking robot and instead replaces the consumed storage container with a storage container that contains a predetermined number of items. If the unevenness is less than the first threshold and the total consumption of each item, as determined based on the consumption information, does not exceed the second threshold, the unit decides to use the picking robot to individually replenish the consumed items into the storage container.

2. A management device, comprising: The information acquisition unit acquires consumption information, which indicates the amount of items consumed in the storage container; and The replenishment decision unit determines whether to use the picking robot to individually replenish the items in the storage container where the items have been consumed if the value obtained by subtracting the value of the magnitude of the unevenness in the consumption of each item, determined according to the consumption information, from the product of the first operating cost (calculated based on the characteristics of the item) and the quantity of the consumed items (determined according to the consumption information) is less than a predetermined third threshold. If the obtained value is greater than or equal to the third threshold, the unit determines whether to use the picking robot and replace the storage container where the items have been consumed with a storage container that contains a predetermined number of the items.

3. The management device according to claim 2, The characteristics of the item include at least its weight.

4. The management device according to claim 2, The characteristics of the article include at least the material of the article.

5. The management device according to claim 2, The features of the item include at least its shape.

6. A management method, Management device, Obtain consumption information, which represents the amount of each item consumed when stored together in a storage container. If the unevenness in the consumption of each item, as determined by the consumption information, is greater than or equal to a predetermined first threshold, it is decided to use a picking robot to individually replenish the items into the storage container where the items have been consumed. If the unevenness is less than the first threshold and the total consumption of each item, as determined by the consumption information, exceeds a predetermined second threshold, it is decided not to use the picking robot and instead replace the storage container where the items have been consumed with a storage container that contains a predetermined number of the items. If the unevenness is less than the first threshold and the total consumption of each item, as determined by the consumption information, does not exceed the second threshold, it is decided to use the picking robot to individually replenish the items into the storage container where the items have been consumed.

7. A management method, Management device, Obtain consumption information, which indicates the amount of items consumed in the storage container; If the value obtained by subtracting the value of the product of the first operating cost (calculated from the characteristics of the item) for the picking robot to select one item from the second operating cost (the quantity of the item consumed as determined by the consumption information) from the value of the unevenness of the consumption of each item as determined by the consumption information is less than a predetermined third threshold, it is decided to use the picking robot to individually replenish the item to the storage container where the item has been consumed. If the obtained value is greater than or equal to the third threshold, it is decided not to use the picking robot and replace the storage container where the item has been consumed with a storage container that contains a predetermined number of the item.

8. A computer-readable medium storing a program that enables a computer to perform information acquisition steps and supplementary decision steps. In the information acquisition step, consumption information is obtained, which represents the amount of each item consumed when stored together in a storage container. In the replenishment decision step, if the unevenness of the consumption of each item, as determined by the consumption information, is greater than or equal to a predetermined first threshold, it is decided to use a picking robot to individually replenish the items into the storage container where the items have been consumed. If the unevenness is less than the first threshold and the total consumption of each item, as determined by the consumption information, exceeds a predetermined second threshold, it is decided not to use the picking robot but to replace the storage container where the items have been consumed with a storage container that contains a predetermined number of the items. If the unevenness is less than the first threshold and the total consumption of each item, as determined by the consumption information, does not exceed the second threshold, it is decided to use the picking robot to individually replenish the items into the storage container where the items have been consumed.

9. A computer-readable medium storing a program that enables a computer to perform information acquisition steps and supplementary decision steps. In the information acquisition step, consumption information is acquired, which is information indicating the amount of items consumed in the storage container; In the replenishment decision step, if the value obtained by subtracting the value of the product of the first operating cost (calculated based on the characteristics of the item) for the picking robot to select one item from the second operating cost (the product of the quantity of the consumed items determined according to the consumption information) from the value of the unevenness of the consumption of each item determined according to the consumption information is less than a predetermined third threshold, it is decided to use the picking robot to individually replenish the items to the storage container where the items have been consumed. If the obtained value is greater than or equal to the third threshold, it is decided not to use the picking robot and replace the storage container where the items have been consumed with a storage container that contains a predetermined number of the items.

10. A computer program product comprising a computer program that causes a computer to perform the management method of claim 6 or 7.

Images