Logistics object picking system, logistics object picking method, device and storage medium

Abstract

Provided in the embodiments of the present disclosure are a logistics object picking system, a logistics object picking method, a device and a storage medium. The logistics object picking system comprises: at least one rack queue, which is arranged in a first direction and stores a plurality of logistics objects, wherein a plurality of rows of fixed racks comprised in each rack queue among the at least one rack queue extend in a second direction; at least one sorting rack, which is arranged on at least one side of the rack queue in the first direction and is adapted to store at least one target logistics object among the plurality of logistics objects determined on the basis of a picking task; and a plurality of transport vehicles, which are allowed to travel on at least one side of the at least one rack queue in the first direction, so as to execute a picking task at the at least one sorting rack. Thus, the efficiency of picking logistics objects can be improved, and the compactness of rack arrangement in a warehouse can also be improved, thereby improving the capacity of warehouses.

Description

Logistics object picking system, logistics object picking method, equipment and storage medium

[0001] This application claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 202510012743.9, filed on January 3, 2025, entitled "Logistics Object Picking System, Logistics Object Picking Method, Equipment and Storage Medium", the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0002] The exemplary embodiments disclosed herein generally relate to the field of logistics warehousing, and particularly to logistics object picking systems, logistics object picking methods, devices and storage media. Background Technology

[0003] A Warehouse Management System (WMS) is a management system that integrates functions such as inbound operations, outbound operations, warehouse transfers, and inventory transfers. It can issue tasks or instructions to people or equipment in the logistics warehouse to realize operations such as inbound, shelving, picking, and outbound of logistics objects. With the continuous development of the logistics industry, higher demands are being placed on the efficiency of logistics object turnover. Summary of the Invention

[0004] In a first aspect of this disclosure, a logistics object picking system is provided. The logistics object picking system includes: at least one shelf queue arranged along a first direction and storing a plurality of logistics objects, each shelf queue including multiple rows of fixed shelves extending in a second direction; at least one distribution rack arranged on at least one side of the shelf queue along the first direction and adapted to store at least one target logistics object from a plurality of logistics objects determined based on a picking task; and a plurality of transport vehicles permitted to travel along at least one side of the at least one shelf queue along the first direction to perform picking tasks at the at least one distribution rack.

[0005] In some embodiments, adjacent shelving queues in a plurality of shelving queues are separated from each other by a first predetermined interval or a second predetermined interval to form at least one main aisle for vehicle traffic or at least one secondary aisle for pedestrian traffic, wherein the main aisle has the width of the first predetermined interval; and the secondary aisle has the width of the second predetermined interval.

[0006] In some embodiments, the logistics object picking system further includes: multiple packing workstations; and is adapted to pick up at least one target logistics object moving by multiple transport vehicles.

[0007] In some embodiments, multiple rows of fixed shelves in a rack queue are spaced apart by a predetermined third interval along a second direction to form a picking aisle for personnel to walk through, wherein personnel are allowed to perform picking and / or placing operations of logistics objects at at least one auxiliary aisle and the picking aisle.

[0008] In some embodiments, the logistics object picking system further includes: a mobile shelf adapted to be coupled to and move with a transport vehicle to store at least one target logistics object picked up from the distribution rack.

[0009] In some embodiments, the second predetermined interval is less than the width of the mobile shelf; and / or the third predetermined interval is less than the width of the mobile shelf.

[0010] In some embodiments, the mobile rack includes a plurality of single-item collection boxes and a plurality of multi-order collection boxes, which are distributed along the height direction in the mobile rack, and the single-item collection boxes are arranged below the multi-order collection boxes along the height direction.

[0011] In some embodiments, the logistics object picking system further includes a temporary storage location arranged between the shelf queue and multiple packing workstations, and adapted to hold empty mobile shelves not coupled to a transport vehicle.

[0012] In some embodiments, the distribution rack includes a plurality of multi-order grids and a plurality of single-unit grids, the plurality of multi-order grids and the plurality of single-unit grids being arranged along the height direction, and the plurality of multi-order grids being arranged above the plurality of single-unit grids along the height direction.

[0013] In some embodiments, the distribution rack also includes multiple indicator lights, which are arranged near the corresponding multiple multi-order grids and / or the corresponding multiple collection single grids.

[0014] In some embodiments, the logistics object picking system further includes a waiting area arranged between a shelf queue and multiple packing workstations, and adapted to place a second mobile shelf, which is a mobile shelf containing at least one target logistics object that has not been picked up by a packing workstation.

[0015] In some embodiments, the logistics object picking system further includes an inbound workbench, arranged on one side of the shelf queue, and adapted to place logistics objects onto the shelf queue.

[0016] According to embodiments of this disclosure, by establishing main aisles, auxiliary aisles, and picking aisles at intervals between multiple fixed shelving units, during the picking process, the transport vehicle travels within the main aisle, while personnel at the shelving units walk within the auxiliary aisles and the picking aisles between each row of shelving units, thus achieving separation of personnel and vehicles. This improves the picking efficiency of logistics objects and also enhances the compactness of the shelving layout within the warehouse, thereby increasing warehouse capacity.

[0017] In a second aspect of this disclosure, a method for picking up logistics objects is provided. The method includes: in response to receiving at least one order, determining a picking task based on the at least one order; determining a first transport vehicle from a plurality of transport vehicles based on the picking task; obtaining a first stopping point from at least one stopping point determined by the first transport vehicle, the first stopping point corresponding to at least one distribution rack; and in response to the first transport vehicle arriving at the first stopping point carrying a first mobile shelf from a plurality of mobile shelves, sending an import task to a first human terminal associated with the first stopping point, the import task instructing the transfer of at least one target logistics object from the at least one distribution rack to the first mobile shelf.

[0018] In some embodiments, the method further includes: in response to the first transport vehicle completing shelving at all stops of at least one stop, controlling the first transport vehicle to move to the packing workbench.

[0019] In some embodiments, at least one stopping point is determined by the first transport vehicle based on the pick-up task.

[0020] In some embodiments, the import task includes: the first compartment information of the first compartment of the first target logistics object where the first target logistics object is located, and the first cargo box information of the first cargo box of the first target logistics object that needs to be transferred to the first mobile shelf.

[0021] In some embodiments, the method further includes: controlling an indicator light associated with the first compartment to operate based on the first compartment information; and controlling the indicator light to turn off in response to receiving import completion information sent by the first human terminal, wherein the import completion information indicates that the first target logistics object has been transferred to the first cargo box.

[0022] In some embodiments, the method further includes: before the first transport vehicle arrives at the first stop point, sending a distribution task to a first human terminal based on a picking task, the distribution task being adapted to instruct the transfer of at least one target logistics object in a fixed shelf to a predetermined compartment of a distribution rack.

[0023] In some embodiments, the method further includes: in response to receiving a replenishment request, determining a second transport vehicle from a plurality of transport vehicles; controlling the second transport vehicle to move a third mobile shelf from a plurality of mobile shelves to a replenishment station; in response to receiving replenishment completion information from a second human terminal at the replenishment station, controlling the second transport vehicle to move to a docking point associated with the replenishment request; and in response to controlling the second transport vehicle to move to the docking point associated with the replenishment request, sending a replenishment task to a third human terminal at the docking point associated with the replenishment request.

[0024] In a third aspect of this disclosure, an electronic device is provided. The device includes at least one processing unit; and at least one memory coupled to the at least one processing unit and storing instructions for execution by the at least one processing unit. When executed by the at least one processing unit, the instructions cause the device to perform the method of the second aspect.

[0025] In a fourth aspect of this disclosure, a computer-readable storage medium is provided. The computer-readable storage medium stores a computer program that can be executed by a processor to implement the method of the second aspect.

[0026] It should be understood that the content described in this content section is not intended to limit the key or essential features of the embodiments of this disclosure, nor is it intended to restrict the scope of this disclosure. Other features of this disclosure will become readily apparent from the following description. Attached Figure Description

[0027] The above and other features, advantages, and aspects of the embodiments of this disclosure will become more apparent from the accompanying drawings and the following detailed description. In the drawings, the same or similar reference numerals denote the same or similar elements, wherein:

[0028] Figure 1 shows a schematic diagram of the overall structure of a logistics object picking system for logistics warehousing according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0029] Figure 2 shows a schematic diagram of the arrangement relationship between the fixed shelf and the dispensing rack according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0030] Figure 3 shows a schematic diagram of a mobile shelf and a transport vehicle according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0031] Figure 4 shows a schematic diagram of a fixed shelf and a dispensing rack according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0032] Figure 5 illustrates a schematic diagram of an application scenario of the logistics object picking method according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0033] Figure 6 illustrates a schematic diagram of the interaction process of a logistics object picking method according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0034] Figure 7 shows a block diagram of a logistics object picking method according to some embodiments of the present disclosure; and

[0035] Figure 8 shows a schematic block diagram of an electronic device suitable for implementing embodiments of the present disclosure. Detailed Implementation

[0036] Embodiments of this disclosure will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. While some embodiments of this disclosure are shown in the drawings, it should be understood that this disclosure can be implemented in various forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided to provide a more thorough and complete understanding of this disclosure. It should be understood that the accompanying drawings and embodiments of this disclosure are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of protection of this disclosure.

[0037] It should be noted that the headings of any section / subsection provided herein are not limiting. Various embodiments are described throughout this document, and embodiments of any type may be included under any section / subsection. Furthermore, embodiments described in any section / subsection may be combined in any way with any other embodiments described in the same section / subsection and / or different sections / subsections.

[0038] In the description of embodiments of this disclosure, the term "comprising" and similar terms should be understood as open-ended inclusion, i.e., "including but not limited to". The term "based on" should be understood as "at least partially based on". The term "one embodiment" or "the embodiment" should be understood as "at least one embodiment". The term "some embodiments" should be understood as "at least some embodiments". Other explicit and implicit definitions may also be included below. The terms "first", "second", etc., may refer to different or the same objects. Other explicit and implicit definitions may also be included below.

[0039] As briefly mentioned earlier, in traditional technology, during the picking of logistics objects (also known as order picking), a transport vehicle typically carries shelves into the sorting aisles between the shelves, where workers at the picking positions select the logistics objects and place them into the corresponding slots on the picking shelves to complete the picking process. However, the picking aisles are narrow, and the transport vehicle's entry into the aisles obstructs the passage of workers. At the same time, the congestion problem of AMRs also poses a challenge to the scheduling system. On the other hand, simply increasing the sorting aisles between the shelves would affect the overall storage density and capacity of the warehouse.

[0040] The present disclosure provides a solution for picking up logistics objects, addressing or at least partially resolving the aforementioned problems and other potential issues present in conventional solutions. According to some embodiments of the logistics object picking system of the present disclosure, multiple rack queues are arranged along a first direction, with adjacent rack queues spaced apart by a first predetermined interval or a second predetermined interval. This creates a main aisle for transport vehicles and an auxiliary aisle for workers between the multiple rack queues. Furthermore, at least one distribution rack is arranged near the racks along the main aisle.

[0041] With the above arrangement, staff can place at least one target logistics object from multiple logistics objects in the shelf queue onto the distribution rack based on the picking task, and after the transport vehicle carrying the mobile rack arrives at the parking position corresponding to the distribution rack, at least one target logistics object on the distribution rack will be transferred to the mobile rack coupled to the transport vehicle.

[0042] The transport vehicle stops at at least one sorting rack according to the picking task, and after completing the import of at least one target logistics item, moves the mobile rack to the packing station for packing. In this way, during the picking task, the transport vehicle travels in the main aisle, while the workers at the racks walk in the auxiliary aisles and the picking lanes between each row of racks, thus achieving separation of personnel and vehicles. This improves the picking efficiency of logistics items and also increases the compactness of the rack layout within the warehouse, thereby increasing warehouse capacity.

[0043] Figure 1 shows a schematic diagram of the overall structure of a logistics object picking system for logistics warehousing according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. As shown in Figure 1, the logistics object picking system includes multiple rack queues 1, at least one sorting rack 2, and multiple transport vehicles 3. The multiple rack queues 1 are arranged sequentially along a first direction D1, and adjacent rack queues 1 are spaced apart by a first predetermined interval or a second predetermined interval. In this way, a main aisle with a first predetermined interval width and an auxiliary aisle with a second predetermined interval width are formed between adjacent rack queues 1.

[0044] In some embodiments, each shelf queue 1 includes a plurality of fixed shelves 10 arranged along a second direction D2. Adjacent fixed shelves 10 arranged along the second direction D2 are spaced apart by a third predetermined interval, thereby forming a picking aisle 13 with a width of the third predetermined interval. A first predetermined interval is greater than a second predetermined interval, and the first predetermined interval is greater than the third predetermined interval. Thus, the widest main aisle allows transport vehicles 3 to travel simultaneously, while the relatively narrower secondary aisles allow personnel sorting logistics objects at the shelf queue 1 to pass through. This achieves separation of personnel movement and transport vehicle movement within the warehouse.

[0045] Figure 2 illustrates a schematic diagram of the arrangement relationship between fixed shelves and distribution racks according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. As shown in Figure 2, at least one distribution rack 2 is arranged on the side of the main aisle near the shelf, and at least one distribution rack 2 is adapted to store at least one target logistics object related to the distribution task. Each distribution rack 2 corresponds to one or more fixed shelves 10 of the shelf queue 1. In one embodiment, the distribution rack 2 and the fixed shelf 10 may be in one-to-one correspondence, with each distribution rack 2 arranged at one end of the corresponding fixed shelf 10 along a first direction D1, whereby at least one target logistics object related to the picking task in each fixed shelf 10 can be stored in the corresponding distribution rack 2. In some embodiments, one distribution rack 2 may correspond to multiple distribution racks 2. For example, one distribution rack 2 may correspond to three adjacent fixed shelves 10 in the shelf queue 1. The distribution rack 2 is arranged at one end of the three fixed shelves 10 along the first direction D1 and located in the middle of the three fixed shelves 10 along the second direction D2. Thus, at least one target logistics object related to the picking task in the three fixed shelves 10 can be stored in the distribution rack 2.

[0046] In some embodiments, multiple stopping points are provided in the main aisle, and the transport vehicle 3 can stop at the desired stopping point, thereby allowing workers at the fixed rack 10 to transfer at least one target logistics object from the distribution rack 2 near the stopping point to the transport vehicle 3. More specifically, the target logistics object can be transferred to the mobile rack 5 coupled to the transport vehicle 3, which will be described in more detail below. It should be understood that the stopping point of the transport vehicle 3 is related to the location of the distribution rack 2; for example, the stopping point may be located near the distribution rack 2.

[0047] Figure 3 illustrates a schematic diagram of mobile shelves and transport vehicles according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. As shown in Figure 3, in some embodiments, the logistics object picking system further includes multiple mobile shelves 5, which are adapted to be coupled to transport vehicles 3 to move, supported by the transport vehicles 3, at least within the main aisle, thereby receiving target logistics objects from the distribution racks 2 located at different positions. In some embodiments, the transport vehicle 3 may be a handling device such as an Automated Guided Vehicle (AGV) or an Autonomous Mobile Robot (AMR), which can be coupled to the mobile shelves 5 according to the picking task to move the mobile shelves 5 to a stopping point associated with the picking task, so that the personnel at the fixed shelf 10 can move the target logistics objects from the distribution racks 2 to the mobile shelves 5.

[0048] In some embodiments, the mobile shelf 5 includes at least two sides for storing logistics objects (e.g., the mobile shelf 5 has a front side and a back side opposite to the front side). The transport vehicle 3 can rotate to the mobile shelf 5 according to the correspondence between the target logistics object and the mobile shelf 5 in the picking task, so that the designated side of the mobile shelf 5 faces the dispensing rack 2.

[0049] In some embodiments, the mobile shelving 5 includes a plurality of single-item collection boxes 51 and multiple-order collection boxes 52. The plurality of single-item collection boxes 51 and multiple-order collection boxes 52 are arranged along a height direction parallel to the direction of gravity, and the plurality of single-item collection boxes 51 are arranged below the plurality of multiple-order collection boxes 52. Since the number of target logistics objects in the single-item collection box 51 is often greater than the number of target logistics objects in the multiple-order collection box 52, arranging the plurality of single-item collection boxes 51 below the plurality of multiple-order collection boxes 52 can improve the stability of the mobile shelving 5 during movement supported by the transport vehicle 3. In some embodiments, the capacity of each single-item collection box 51 is greater than the capacity of each multiple-order collection box 52.

[0050] In some embodiments, an order placed for a single demander (e.g., a customer) may contain multiple target logistics items (e.g., an order may contain a mobile phone, a tablet, and headphones). To facilitate centralized packaging, all target logistics items in the order will be placed in a multi-order container 52. That is, each multi-order container 52 is adapted to accommodate all target logistics items in an order containing multiple target logistics items.

[0051] In some other embodiments, a first order from a first demander among multiple demanders contains only one target logistics object (e.g., mobile phone A), and a second order from a second demander contains only one identical target logistics object (e.g., the same mobile phone A). These orders containing the same single target logistics object can then be consolidated into a bundled order, and the multiple identical target logistics objects corresponding to the bundled order can be placed together in the bundled order container 51. That is, each bundled order container 51 is suitable for accommodating multiple identical target logistics objects.

[0052] Figure 4 shows a schematic diagram of a fixed shelf and a distribution rack according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. As shown in Figure 4, similar to the arrangement of the mobile shelf 5, the distribution rack 2 includes a plurality of multi-order slots 21 and a plurality of single-item slots 22. Each multi-order slot 21 is adapted to accommodate multiple target logistics objects from an order containing multiple target logistics objects. Each single-item slot 22 is adapted to accommodate multiple identical target logistics objects. In some embodiments, the plurality of multi-order slots 21 and the plurality of single-item slots 22 are arranged in a height direction parallel to the direction of gravity, and the plurality of single-item slots 22 are arranged below the plurality of multi-order slots 21. In this way, after the distribution rack 2 is loaded with multiple target logistics objects, the number of target logistics objects in the single-item slots 22 is often greater than the number of target logistics objects in the multi-order slots 21, thereby improving the stability of the distribution rack 2.

[0053] For example, when the control device of the logistics object picking system receives a picking task for a multi-order (i.e., an order containing multiple target logistics objects), the control device can send a distribution task to the first-person terminal of the staff on the shelf. According to the distribution task, the staff transfers the target logistics objects involved in the multi-order to a multi-order slot 21 of the corresponding distribution rack 2. The transport vehicle 3 sequentially lifts the mobile shelf 5 and moves it to multiple distribution racks 2 to move the target logistics objects in the multi-order slots 21 of multiple distribution racks 2 into the same multi-order container 52 of the mobile shelf 5.

[0054] When the control equipment of the logistics object picking system receives a picking task for a collection order (i.e., multiple orders with the same single target logistics object), the control equipment can send a distribution task to the first human terminal of the staff on the shelf. The staff will transfer multiple identical target logistics objects to the collection order slot 22 of the distribution shelf according to the distribution task. After the transport vehicle 3 carries the mobile shelf 5 to the docking point corresponding to the distribution shelf, the multiple identical target logistics objects will be moved into the collection order box 51 of the mobile shelf 5.

[0055] As shown in Figure 4, in some embodiments, the distribution rack also includes multiple indicator lights 23, which correspond to multiple multi-order slots 21 and multiple single-item slots 22 of the distribution rack. When a worker at the rack transfers a target logistics object to the mobile rack 5, the corresponding indicator light 23 illuminates. Simultaneously, the worker's first-person terminal displays transfer information, indicating that the target logistics object in the illuminated slot needs to be transferred to the specific cargo box on the mobile rack 5. After completing the transfer of the target logistics object in that slot, the worker sends an import completion message to the control device via their first-person terminal. Upon receiving the import completion message, the control device activates the indicator light 23 of the next slot in the distribution rack 2 to indicate the location where the target logistics object needs to be transferred. This method improves the accuracy of transferring the target logistics object to the mobile rack 5.

[0056] Referring back to Figure 1, as shown in Figure 1, in some embodiments, the logistics object picking system further includes multiple packing workstations 4, arranged on one side of the shelf queue 1 and adapted to perform inspection, packing, and other operations on the target logistics objects within the mobile shelves 5 moved by the transport vehicle 3. In some embodiments, the logistics object picking system also includes a temporary storage area, which is suitable for storing and controlling the mobile shelves 5. After receiving a picking task, the transport vehicle 3 can proceed to the temporary storage area to couple with the mobile shelves 5. In some embodiments, the multiple mobile shelves 5 stored in the temporary storage area can be of various specifications, and the transport vehicle 3 can obtain the shelf number of the mobile shelf 5 to determine whether the current mobile shelf 5 meets the requirements of the picking task. For example, the transport vehicle 3 can determine the shelf number of the mobile shelf 5 by scanning the QR code on the mobile shelf 5, and then determine whether the number of boxes on the mobile shelf 5 meets the requirements of the picking task.

[0057] In one embodiment, the shelf queue 1 and multiple packing workstations 4 are further provided with a waiting area 7. If all multiple packing workstations 4 are currently occupied, the transport vehicle 3 can carry a mobile shelf 5 (also referred to as a second mobile shelf) loaded with at least one target logistics object to the temporary storage area to wait for a packing workstation 4 to become available before moving the mobile shelf 5 to the corresponding packing workstation 4. In some embodiments, to maximize the utilization efficiency of the transport vehicle 3, after the transport vehicle 3 moves the second mobile shelf to the waiting area 7, the transport vehicle 3 can decouple from the second mobile shelf so that the transport vehicle 3 can continue to perform the next picking task. In some embodiments, the waiting area can be specially equipped with a transfer transport vehicle. If an empty packing workstation 4 appears among the multiple packing workstations 4, the transfer transport vehicle can couple with the second mobile shelf and transfer the second mobile shelf to the empty packing workstation 4.

[0058] In some embodiments, the packing workbench 4 can be classified according to the specifications of the logistics objects being packed (e.g., volume, weight, etc.), the time requirements of the logistics objects, the destination information of the logistics objects, etc. The transport vehicle 3 can be moved to the matching packing workbench according to the relevant information in the picking task, and the staff at the packing workbench will carry out the packing operation.

[0059] In some embodiments, the logistics object picking system further includes an inbound workbench 8, which is arranged on one side of the shelf queue 1 and adapted to replenish logistics objects to the shelf queue 1. In some embodiments, the inbound workbench 8 can send a replenishment request to the control device of the logistics object picking system. The control device can decide whether to allocate a transport vehicle 3 based on the logistics objects to be replenished. If the quantity and other information of the logistics objects to be replenished meet the requirements, the control device can allocate a transport vehicle 3 to carry a mobile shelf 5 to the inbound workbench 8 to transfer the logistics objects and move them to the corresponding fixed shelves 10 to replenish the fixed shelves 10. If the logistics objects to be replenished do not meet the requirements (e.g., the quantity of logistics objects to be replenished is small), the control device can send a replenishment task to the second personal terminal of the worker located at the inbound workbench 8 to instruct the worker to perform manual replenishment. The worker can move around in the auxiliary aisles, picking aisles 13, and around the periphery of multiple shelf queues 1 to replenish the logistics objects to the corresponding fixed shelves 10.

[0060] Figure 5 illustrates an application scenario 500 of a logistics object picking method according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. As shown in Figure 5, application scenario 500 includes a control device 510, multiple transport vehicles 520, and multiple personal terminals 530 suitable for being held by workers. The control device 510, multiple transport vehicles 520, and multiple personal terminals 530 are connected via a network 540. Thus, the control device 510 can issue tasks to the multiple transport vehicles 520 and multiple personal terminals 530 via the network 540, and receive feedback from the multiple transport vehicles 520 and multiple personal terminals 530. This allows for the control of picking logistics objects within the warehouse.

[0061] In some embodiments, the personal terminal 530 can be applied at different workstations and is suitable for being held by workers performing different types of work. For example, a first personal terminal held by a worker at a shelf queue, a second personal terminal held by a worker at a replenishment workstation, etc.

[0062] In some embodiments, the transport vehicle 520 includes a processing module adapted to communicate with a control device, and the processing module can also control the transport vehicle 520 to perform tasks such as walking, obstacle avoidance, separation from the mobile rack, and determining the travel route and stopping point.

[0063] In some embodiments, application scenario 500 further includes a lighting management device coupled to the indicator lights of the dispensing rack, and the lighting management device can be connected to the control device 510 via network 540, thereby the control device 510 can control the lighting or extinguishing of designated indicator lights in the dispensing rack.

[0064] In some embodiments, the control device 510 may include any computing system with computing capabilities, such as various computing devices / systems, terminal devices, server devices, etc. Terminal devices may be any type of mobile terminal, fixed terminal, or portable terminal, including mobile phones, desktop computers, laptop computers, notebook computers, netbook computers, tablet computers, media computers, multimedia tablets, handheld computers, portable gaming terminals, personal communication system (PCS) devices, personal navigation devices, personal digital assistants (PDAs), audio / video players, digital cameras / camcorders, positioning devices, television receivers, radio receivers, e-book devices, gaming devices, or any combination of the foregoing, including accessories and peripherals of these devices or any combination thereof. Other examples of server devices may be standalone physical servers, server clusters consisting of multiple physical servers, or distributed systems. Server devices may include, for example, mainframes, edge computing nodes, computing devices in cloud environments, etc.

[0065] Figure 6 illustrates a schematic diagram of the interaction process 600 of a logistics object picking method according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. As shown in Figure 6, in block 611, the control device 510 determines a picking task. In block 612, the control device 510 issues a box-binding task to the transport vehicle 520 based on the picking task. In block 631, the transport vehicle 520 is scheduled and proceeds to a temporary storage location based on the box-binding task. In block 632, the transport vehicle 520 arrives at the temporary storage location. In block 633, the shelf number of the mobile shelf is scanned, and the transport vehicle 520 binds a box to the mobile shelf. In block 634, the transport vehicle 520 reports the box-binding result to the control device 510. In block 613, the control device 510 receives the box-binding result. In block 614, the control device 510 issues a transport task to the transport vehicle 520 based on the box-binding result. In block 613, the transport vehicle 520 proceeds to a docking point. In block 636, upon arriving at the docking point, the transport vehicle 520 confirms whether a face-changing operation is required. In box 637, if the transport vehicle 520 confirms that a face-changing operation is needed, the transport vehicle 520 performs the face-changing operation and arrives at the docking point as shown in box 638 after the face-changing. If the transport vehicle 520 confirms that a face-changing operation is not needed, the transport vehicle 520 arrives at the docking point as shown in box 638. In box 639, after arriving at the docking point, the transport vehicle 520 reports its arrival to the control device 510. In box 615, after receiving the arrival information of the transport vehicle 520, the control device 510 sends an import task to the first human terminal 530 of the worker located on the shelf in box 616. In box 671, the worker operates the first human terminal 530 to receive the import task, and in box 672, the import operation begins. After the first human terminal 530 begins executing the import operation, in box 617, the control device 510 sends a lighting command to the lighting management device. After receiving the lighting command, the lighting management device, in box 651, determines whether there are other cells besides the one currently needing import. If other cells exist, in box 653, the lighting management device turns off the indicator lights for those cells and illuminates the indicator light for the current cell in box 652. If no other cells exist, in box 652, the lighting management device illuminates the indicator light for the current cell. During this period, the worker imports the logistics objects into the corresponding cells of the mobile shelf using the first human terminal 530. After completing the import of the logistics objects from that cell to the mobile shelf, in box 673, the first human terminal 530 receives an indication from the worker that the import is complete. In box 674, the first human terminal 530 determines whether all target logistics objects in the distribution rack have been imported. If all target logistics objects in the distribution rack have been imported, in box 618, the first human terminal 530 returns import completion information to the control device 510. If not all target logistics objects in the distribution rack have been imported, return to box 672 and continue the import task.In box 618, after receiving the instruction from the first human terminal 530 indicating that the import is complete, the control device 510 sends control information to the lighting management device. In box 654, the lighting management device turns off the indicator lights of all compartments in the material distribution rack. In box 619, the control device 510 can also determine whether the transport vehicle 520 has completed docking at all docking points. If the transport vehicle 520 has not completed docking at all docking points, in box 640, the control device 510 controls the transport vehicle 520 to move to the next docking point. If the transport vehicle 520 has completed docking at all docking points, in box 620, the control device 510 controls the transport vehicle 520 to move to the packaging workbench.

[0066] Figure 7 shows a block diagram of a logistics object picking method according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. As shown in Figure 7, method 700 can be implemented based on control device 510 provided in embodiments of the present disclosure. In block 710, control device 510 determines a picking task based on at least one order in response to receiving at least one order. In some embodiments, to improve the efficiency of picking and packing, control device 510 can generate picking based on multiple orders. Multiple orders may include at least one of multiple orders with multiple logistics objects and a single order with a single logistics object. Control device 510 can also classify multiple orders according to factors such as the type and timeliness of the logistics objects contained in the orders. Orders with the same or similar factors are integrated and picking tasks are determined. That is, based on the picking task, multiple target logistics objects can be transferred from the shelf to the packing workbench simultaneously. This can improve the transfer efficiency of logistics objects. In some other embodiments, control device 510 can also generate picking tasks based on a single order.

[0067] In some embodiments, after the control device 510 determines a picking task, the control device 510 can send a distribution task to a first terminal device held by a worker at the shelf queue. After receiving the distribution task through the first terminal device, the worker can transfer the target logistics object related to the picking task from the fixed shelf to the predetermined slot of the distribution rack.

[0068] In block 720, control device 510 determines a first transport vehicle 520 from a plurality of transport vehicles 520 based on the picking task. In some embodiments, the plurality of transport vehicles 520 may have various characteristics. Control device 510 can select a suitable first transport vehicle to perform the picking task based on characteristics such as the weight, quantity, volume, and timeliness of the logistics objects in the picking task. For example, for picking orders with heavy logistics objects, control device 510 can select a transport vehicle 520 with a large load capacity.

[0069] In some embodiments, after the control device 510 determines the transport vehicle 520, the transport vehicle 520 can move to the temporary storage area and couple with the mobile shelf in the temporary storage area. In some embodiments, the transport vehicle 520 can also acquire the shelf number on the mobile shelf and determine the pre-stored shelf information of the mobile shelf based on the shelf number. The shelf information is suitable for indicating the specifications of the mobile shelf or the limitation requirements of the target logistics objects that the mobile shelf can store. The control device 510 can determine whether the current mobile shelf can meet the requirements of the picking task based on the acquired shelf number. If the current mobile shelf meets the requirements of the picking task, the control device 510 can control the transport vehicle 520 to couple with the mobile shelf. If the current mobile shelf does not meet the requirements of the picking task, the control device 510 can control the first transport vehicle 520 to re-match the mobile shelf.

[0070] In frame 730, control device 510 acquires a first stop point from at least one stop point determined by first transport vehicle 520, the first stop point corresponding to at least one distribution rack.

[0071] In some embodiments, after the first transport vehicle 520 determines the first stopping point, the control device 510 can send a distribution task to the first terminal device at the first stopping point, thereby improving the continuity of task allocation. Workers can distribute the target logistics object while the first transport vehicle 520 is traveling towards the first stopping point. After the first transport vehicle 520 arrives at the first stopping point, the target logistics object can be imported into the first mobile shelf coupled to the first transport vehicle 520.

[0072] In frame 740, control device 510, in response to first transport vehicle 520 carrying first mobile shelf of a plurality of mobile shelves to first docking point, sends an import task to first human terminal 530 associated with the first docking point, the import task instructing the transfer of at least one target logistics object from at least one distribution rack to the first mobile shelf.

[0073] In some embodiments, at least one stopping point is determined by the first transport vehicle 520 based on the picking task, and the transport vehicle 520 stops sequentially at the determined at least one stopping point in order to acquire the target logistics object in each distribution shelf.

[0074] When the transport vehicle 520 carrying the mobile shelf arrives at the first stopping point, the control device 510 can send an import task to the first terminal. According to the import task, the staff will transfer at least one target logistics object in the distribution rack to the first mobile shelf.

[0075] In some embodiments, the control device 510 can present an import task to the worker via a first terminal to help the worker match the target logistics object with the cargo box that needs to be placed on the first mobile shelf. The import task may include: the first compartment information of the first compartment of the sorting rack where the first target logistics object to be placed is located, and the first cargo box information of the first cargo box to which the first target logistics object needs to be transferred to the first mobile shelf.

[0076] In some embodiments, the control device 510 can also control the lighting management device to turn multiple indicator lights on or off the dispensing rack, so that the operator can determine the compartment where the first target logistics object is located. Specifically, when the import task instructs the transfer of the first target logistics object to the first cargo box of the first mobile shelf, the lighting management device can control the indicator lights at the first compartment of the dispensing rack where the first target logistics object is stored to turn on (the indicator lights illuminate). When the operator completes the import of the first target logistics object, the operator sends an import completion message to the first terminal, and the control device 510 controls the lighting management device to turn off the indicator lights. By repeating the above steps, all target logistics objects in the dispensing rack are imported.

[0077] In some embodiments, in response to the first transport vehicle 520 completing shelving at all stops of at least one stop, the control device 510 controls the first transport vehicle 520 to move to the packing workbench. The first transport vehicle 520 carries the target logistics object to the packing workbench, where it is inspected and packed by the staff at the packing workbench.

[0078] In some embodiments, in response to receiving a replenishment request, the control device 510 determines a second transport vehicle 520 from a plurality of transport vehicles 520. The control device 510 controls the second transport vehicle 520 to move a third mobile shelf from a plurality of mobile shelves to the replenishment station.

[0079] Staff at the replenishment station can send a replenishment request (i.e., an inbound request) to the control device 510 via a second personal terminal 530. Based on the replenishment request, the control device 510 controls the second transport vehicle 520 to move the third mobile shelf to the replenishment station for replenishment.

[0080] Upon receiving replenishment completion information from the second human terminal 530 at the replenishment station, control device 510 controls the second transport vehicle 520 to move to the docking point associated with the replenishment request. In response to controlling the second transport vehicle 520 to move to the docking point associated with the replenishment request, control device 510 sends a replenishment task to the third human terminal 530 at the docking point associated with the replenishment request.

[0081] After replenishment is completed, the staff sends replenishment completion information to the control device 510 through the second human terminal 530. The control device 510 controls the second transport vehicle 520 to move to the corresponding docking point. At the same time, it sends a replenishment task to the third human terminal 530 at the relevant docking point. It should be understood that in some embodiments, the third human terminal and the first human terminal can be the same, that is, the staff can perform distribution and import work according to the pick-up task, or perform replenishment operation according to the replenishment task.

[0082] Figure 8 shows a schematic block diagram of an electronic device suitable for implementing embodiments of the present disclosure. As shown in Figure 8, according to the present disclosure, an electronic device 800 may be the control device 510 mentioned above or other suitable devices. The electronic device 800 includes a central processing unit (CPU) 801, which can perform various appropriate actions and processes according to computer program instructions stored in read-only memory (ROM) 802 or loaded from storage units into random access memory (RAM) 803. Various programs and data required for device operation may also be stored in RAM 803. The CPU 801, ROM 802, and RAM 803 are interconnected via a bus 804. An input / output (I / O) interface 805 is also connected to the bus 804.

[0083] Multiple components in the device are connected to I / O interface 805, including: input unit 806, such as a touch screen, buttons, etc.; output unit 807, such as various types of displays, speakers, etc.; storage unit 808, such as a disk, optical disk, etc.; and communication unit 809, such as a network card, modem, wireless transceiver, etc. Communication unit 809 allows the device to exchange information / data with other devices through computer networks such as the Internet and / or various telecommunications networks.

[0084] The various processes and procedures described above, such as method 700 mentioned earlier, can be executed by processing unit 801. For example, in some embodiments, the above-described methods or processes can be implemented as computer software programs tangibly contained in a machine-readable medium, such as a storage unit. In some embodiments, part or all of the computer program can be loaded and / or installed on the device via ROM 802 and / or communication unit 809. When the computer program is loaded into RAM 803 and executed by CPU 801, one or more actions of the above-described methods or processes can be performed.

[0085] Embodiments of this disclosure relate to methods, electronic devices, and / or computer program products. A computer program product may include a computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program instructions loaded thereon for performing various aspects of this disclosure.

[0086] Computer-readable storage media can be tangible devices capable of holding and storing instructions for use by an instruction execution device. Computer-readable storage media can be, for example, (but not limited to) electrical storage devices, magnetic storage devices, optical storage devices, electromagnetic storage devices, semiconductor storage devices, or any suitable combination of the foregoing. More specific examples (a non-exhaustive list) of computer-readable storage media include: portable computer disks, hard disks, random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM or flash memory), static random access memory (SRAM), portable compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), digital multifunction disc (DVD), memory sticks, floppy disks, mechanical encoding devices, such as punch cards or recessed protrusions storing instructions thereon, and any suitable combination of the foregoing. The computer-readable storage media used herein are not to be construed as transient signals themselves, such as radio waves or other freely propagating electromagnetic waves, electromagnetic waves propagating through waveguides or other transmission media (e.g., light pulses through fiber optic cables), or electrical signals transmitted through wires.

[0087] The computer-readable program instructions described herein can be downloaded from computer-readable storage media to various computing / processing devices, or downloaded via a network, such as the Internet, local area network, wide area network, and / or wireless network, to an external computer or external storage device. The network may include copper transmission cables, fiber optic transmission, wireless transmission, routers, firewalls, switches, gateway computers, and / or edge servers. A network adapter card or network interface in each computing / processing device receives the computer-readable program instructions from the network and forwards them to the computer-readable storage media in the respective computing / processing device.

[0088] Computer program instructions used to perform the operations of this disclosure may be assembly instructions, instruction set architecture (ISA) instructions, machine instructions, machine-dependent instructions, microcode, firmware instructions, status setting data, or source code or object code written in any combination of one or more programming languages, including object-oriented programming languages ​​such as Smalltalk, C++, etc., and conventional procedural programming languages ​​such as the "C" language or similar programming languages. The computer-readable program instructions may execute entirely on the user's computer, partially on the user's computer, as a standalone software package, partially on the user's computer and partially on a remote computer, or entirely on a remote computer or server. In cases involving a remote computer, the remote computer may be connected to the user's computer via any type of network—including a local area network (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN)—or may be connected to an external computer (e.g., via the Internet using an Internet service provider). In some embodiments, electronic circuitry, such as programmable logic circuitry, field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), or programmable logic arrays (PLAs), is personalized by utilizing the status information of the computer-readable program instructions to implement various aspects of this disclosure.

[0089] Various aspects of this disclosure are described herein with reference to flowchart illustrations and / or block diagrams of methods, apparatus (systems), and computer program products according to embodiments of this disclosure. It should be understood that each block of the flowchart illustrations and / or block diagrams, and combinations of blocks in the flowchart illustrations and / or block diagrams, can be implemented by computer-readable program instructions.

[0090] These computer-readable program instructions can be provided to a processing unit of a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, or other programmable data processing apparatus to produce a machine such that, when executed by the processing unit of the computer or other programmable data processing apparatus, they create means for implementing the functions / actions specified in one or more blocks of the flowchart and / or block diagram. These computer-readable program instructions can also be stored in a computer-readable storage medium that causes a computer, programmable data processing apparatus, and / or other device to operate in a particular manner. Thus, the computer-readable medium storing the instructions comprises an article of manufacture that includes instructions for implementing aspects of the functions / actions specified in one or more blocks of the flowchart and / or block diagram.

[0091] Computer-readable program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer, other programmable data processing apparatus, or other device to cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer, other programmable data processing apparatus, or other device to produce a computer-implemented process, thereby causing the instructions executed on the computer, other programmable data processing apparatus, or other device to perform the functions / actions specified in one or more boxes of a flowchart and / or block diagram.

[0092] The flowcharts and block diagrams in the accompanying drawings illustrate the architecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementations of systems, methods, and computer program products according to various embodiments of the present disclosure. In this regard, each block in a flowchart or block diagram may represent a module, segment, or portion of an instruction, which contains one or more executable instructions for implementing a specified logical function. In some alternative implementations, the functions marked in the blocks may occur in a different order than those marked in the drawings. For example, two consecutive blocks may actually be executed substantially in parallel, and they may sometimes be executed in reverse order, depending on the functions involved. It should also be noted that each block in the block diagrams and / or flowcharts, and combinations of blocks in the block diagrams and / or flowcharts, may be implemented using a dedicated hardware-based system that performs the specified function or action, or using a combination of dedicated hardware and computer instructions.

[0093] Various implementations of this disclosure have been described above. These descriptions are exemplary and not exhaustive, nor are they limited to the disclosed implementations. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the described implementations. The terminology used herein is chosen to best explain the principles, practical applications, or improvements to technology in the market, or to enable others skilled in the art to understand the various implementations disclosed herein.

Claims

1. A logistics object picking system, comprising: At least one shelf queue (1) is arranged along a first direction (D1) and stores a plurality of logistics objects, wherein each shelf queue (1) of the at least one shelf queue (1) includes multiple rows of fixed shelves (10) extending in a second direction (D2); At least one sorting rack (2) is arranged on at least one side of the shelf queue (1) along the first direction (D1) and is adapted to store at least one target logistics object among the plurality of logistics objects determined based on the picking task; as well as Multiple transport vehicles (3) are permitted to travel on at least one side of the at least one shelf queue (1) along the first direction (D1) to perform the picking task at the at least one distribution rack (2).

2. The logistics object picking system according to claim 1, Adjacent shelving queues (1) in the plurality of shelving queues (1) are separated from each other by a first predetermined interval or a second predetermined interval to form at least one main aisle (11) for vehicle traffic or at least one secondary aisle (12) for pedestrian traffic, and wherein The main channel (11) has the width of the first predetermined interval; and The auxiliary channel (12) has the width of the second predetermined interval.

3. The logistics object picking system according to claim 1 further includes: Multiple packing workbenches (4); adapted to acquire at least one target logistics object that is moved by the multiple transport vehicles (3).

4. The logistics object picking system according to claim 2, wherein the multiple rows of fixed shelves (10) of the shelf queue (1) are spaced apart by a third predetermined interval along a second direction (D2) to form a picking aisle (13) for personnel to walk through, wherein personnel are permitted to perform picking and / or placing operations of logistics objects at the at least one auxiliary aisle (12) and the picking aisle (13).

5. The logistics object picking system according to claim 4 further includes: A mobile shelf (5) is adapted to be coupled to and move with the transport vehicle (3) to store at least one target logistics object obtained from the distribution rack (2).

6. The logistics object picking system according to claim 5, wherein the second predetermined interval is less than the width of the mobile shelf (5); and / or The third predetermined interval is less than the width of the mobile shelf (5).

7. The logistics object picking system according to claim 5, wherein the mobile shelf (5) includes a plurality of single-item boxes (51) and a plurality of multi-order boxes (52), the plurality of single-item boxes (51) and the plurality of multi-order boxes (52) are distributed in the mobile shelf (5) along the height direction, and the single-item boxes (51) are arranged below the multi-order boxes (52) along the height direction.

8. The logistics object picking system according to any one of claims 5-7 further includes a temporary storage location (6) arranged between the shelf queue (1) and the plurality of packing workbenches (4), and adapted to place an empty mobile shelf (5) not coupled to the transport vehicle (3).

9. The logistics object picking system according to any one of claims 1-7, wherein the sorting rack (2) includes a plurality of multi-order slots (21) and a plurality of collection single slots (22), the plurality of multi-order slots (21) and the plurality of collection single slots (22) are arranged along the height direction, and the plurality of multi-order slots (21) are arranged above the plurality of collection single slots (22) along the height direction.

10. The logistics object picking system according to claim 9, wherein the sorting rack (2) further includes a plurality of indicator lights (23), wherein the plurality of indicator lights (23) are respectively arranged close to the corresponding plurality of multi-order slots (21) and / or the corresponding plurality of collection single slots (22).

11. The logistics object picking system according to any one of claims 5-7 further includes a waiting area (7) arranged between the shelf queue (1) and the plurality of packing workstations (4), and adapted to place a second mobile shelf, the second mobile shelf being a mobile shelf (5) storing the at least one target logistics object that has not been picked up by the packing workstation (4).

12. The logistics object picking system according to any one of claims 1-7 and 10 further includes an inbound workbench (8) arranged on one side of the shelf queue (1) and adapted to place logistics objects on the shelf queue (1).

13. A method for picking up logistics objects, comprising: In response to receiving at least one order, a pickup task is determined based on the at least one order; The first transport vehicle is determined from multiple transport vehicles based on the pick-up task; Obtain the first stopping point from at least one stopping point determined by the first transport vehicle, wherein the first stopping point corresponds to at least one distributing rack; as well as In response to the arrival of the first mobile shelf, one of a plurality of mobile shelves, at the first docking point by the first transport vehicle, an import task is sent to the first human terminal associated with the first docking point, the import task instructing the transfer of at least one target logistics object from at least one distribution rack to the first mobile shelf.

14. The logistics object picking method according to claim 13 further includes: In response to the first transport vehicle completing the shelving at all stops at at least one stop point, the first transport vehicle is controlled to move to the packing workbench.

15. The logistics object picking method according to claim 13, wherein the at least one stopping point is determined by the first transport vehicle based on the picking task.

16. The logistics object picking method according to claim 13, wherein the import task includes: The first compartment information of the first compartment of the first target logistics object located in the first distribution rack where at least one target logistics object needs to be placed on the shelf, and the first cargo box information of the first cargo box of the first target logistics object that needs to be transferred to the first mobile shelf.

17. The logistics object picking method according to claim 16 further includes: Based on the information of the first grid, control the operation of the indicator lights related to the first grid. In response to receiving the import completion information sent by the first personal terminal, the indicator light is turned off, and the import completion information indicates that the first target logistics object has been transferred to the first cargo box.

18. The logistics object picking method according to claim 13 further includes: Before the first transport vehicle arrives at the first docking point, a distribution task is sent to the first personal terminal based on the picking task. The distribution task is adapted to instruct the transfer of at least one target logistics object in the fixed shelf to a predetermined compartment of the distribution rack.

19. The logistics object picking method according to claim 13 further includes: In response to receiving a replenishment request, a second transport vehicle is selected from multiple transport vehicles; Control the second transport vehicle to move the third mobile shelf from among multiple mobile shelves to the replenishment station; Upon receiving replenishment completion information from the second human terminal at the replenishment station, the system controls the second transport vehicle to move to the docking point associated with the replenishment request. as well as In response to controlling the second transport vehicle to move to the docking point associated with the replenishment request, a replenishment task is sent to a third-person terminal at the docking point associated with the replenishment request.

20. An electronic device, comprising: At least one processing unit; as well as At least one memory, coupled to the at least one processing unit and storing instructions for execution by the at least one processing unit, which, when executed by the at least one processing unit, cause the electronic device to perform the method according to any one of claims 13 to 19.

21. A computer-readable storage medium having a computer program stored thereon, the computer program being executable by a processor to implement the method according to any one of claims 13 to 19.

Images