Adjustable-Footprint Storage Vehicles for Grid Congestion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing automated storage and retrieval systems face inefficiencies due to queuing and congestion at port columns, as well as the need for vehicles to travel long distances to deliver or pick up storage containers, occupying unnecessary space on the grid system.
Innovation Solution
A remotely operated vehicle with adjustable storage container supports that can change footprint depending on load, allowing for simultaneous transport of multiple containers and minimizing space occupancy on the rail system, equipped with mechanisms for pivoting, sliding, or telescoping to accommodate varying loads.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If container handling vehicles use fixed-size storage compartments, then they can always accommodate containers, but they occupy unnecessary space on the grid system when not in use
Solution Approach 1:
The storage compartment is designed with movable walls that can dynamically adjust its horizontal dimensions. When a container is present, the walls move outward to accommodate the container's size. When no container is present, the walls retract to minimize the compartment's footprint on the grid system, thereby resolving the contradiction between adaptability and space occupancy.
Solution Approach 2:
The storage compartment's dimensions are made variable through adjustable walls. The compartment can change its length and width parameters based on the container being transported, allowing it to match the container's dimensions precisely. This parameter adjustment enables the vehicle to maintain full functionality while minimizing occupied grid space when not carrying containers.
2Adaptability or versatility
If vehicles travel long distances to deliver or pick up containers, then they can access all storage locations, but operational efficiency decreases due to time consumption
Solution Approach 1:
Containers are pre-positioned in storage columns adjacent to port columns. This preliminary arrangement allows vehicles to pick up and deliver containers over very short distances rather than traveling long distances across the entire grid system. The preliminary action of pre-positioning containers significantly reduces travel time while maintaining access to all storage locations.
3Productivity
If multiple container handling vehicles operate simultaneously, then system throughput increases, but queuing and congestion occur at port columns
Solution Approach 1:
The storage system is divided into multiple independent storage columns distributed across the grid. Each storage column can be accessed independently by different vehicles. This segmentation allows vehicles to operate in parallel without queuing at a single port column, as each vehicle can retrieve containers from different spatial locations simultaneously, thereby increasing throughput without creating congestion.
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1C~1b
Figure 2~3
AI summary
The invention relates to a remotely operated vehicle (500) that can change footprint depending on the load of storage containers (106). Further, the vehicle (500) can arrange a storage container support (550) in a position for receiving a storage container (106) from a delivering device. Further the invention relates to a storage and retrieval system (1) comprising such vehicle (500), and a method for operating such vehicle (500).