Acoustic Storage Capacity Estimation via Sound Reflection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Determining available storage capacity in storage units is a slow and error-prone process.
Innovation Solution
Implementing an array of microphones in a facility to detect arbitrary sounds, which are encoded into electrical signals and processed by a computing system to estimate storage capacity based on sound intensities, frequencies, and reflections, without requiring a predetermined sound source or specified frequency or amplitude.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If manual measurement methods are used to determine storage capacity, then the process is simple to implement, but it is slow and error-prone
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical measurement methods with an acoustic detection system using microphones and signal processing. The system uses sound wave reflections and transmissions through storage units to automatically determine storage capacity, eliminating the need for physical manual measurement while improving both speed and accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces sound waves as an intermediary medium to indirectly measure storage capacity. Instead of directly measuring physical dimensions or weight, the system uses acoustic signals that interact with stored items (through reflection, transmission, and absorption) to infer storage state, providing a non-contact measurement approach.
2Productivity
If acoustic detection methods are implemented, then measurement speed and accuracy improve, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the acoustic detection system serve multiple functions: detecting storage capacity, identifying item types, determining item orientation, and monitoring storage conditions. This multi-functionality justifies the increased device complexity by providing comprehensive storage management capabilities from a single system.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses ambient sounds and active acoustic signals that naturally interact with the storage environment. The microphones and signal processing automatically adapt to different storage configurations without requiring manual calibration or configuration, allowing the system to self-adjust to various warehouse conditions.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables accurate estimation of storage capacity without manual measurement, improving efficiency and reducing errors in determining available storage space.
Implementation Method 1
The computing system can execute the sound analysis engine to query the echoes database using the intensity and frequency of the sound and the intensity and frequency of the reflection of the sound to identify a structure from which the sound is reflecting
Implementation Method 2
The microphones can detect reflection of the sounds off of a storage unit in a facility and/or transmission of sounds through storage units in a facility
Data Source
AI summary
Described in detail herein are methods and systems for estimating storage capacity of a storage unit disposed in a facility based on echoes detected by microphones. The microphones can detect sounds generated in the warehouse and reflected off the storage unit structures. The microphones detect the intensity of the sounds. The microphones can encode the sounds and the intensity of the sounds in time-varying electrical signals and transmit the time-varying electrical signals to a computing system. The computing system can decode the sounds and the intensity of the sounds from the time-varying electrical signals and estimate storage capacity of a storage unit from which the sounds reflected off of based on the intensity of the sounds.