AGV Picking Task Allocation for Shorter Warehouse Travel
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current e-commerce order fulfillment warehouse systems face inefficiencies in articles picking, with single picker methods resulting in long walking distances and low picking efficiency, while multi-person relay methods are cumbersome and inflexible due to inconvenient conveyor line deployment.
Innovation Solution
An articles picking method and control system that utilizes AGVs to receive orders, recommend tasks to multiple pickers based on proximity, and plan routes to reduce travel distance, ensuring efficient order completion by associating AGVs with multiple orders and optimizing picker allocation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If multiple persons complete one articles picking task in a relay manner, then the picking efficiency is improved, but the system complexity and deployment difficulty increase due to conveyor line requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism (the relay system with conveyor lines) to transfer articles between multiple pickers. This mediator enables coordinated multi-picker operation without requiring direct hand-to-hand transfer, thus improving efficiency while managing the complexity of coordination through automated conveyor infrastructure.
2Device complexity
If a single articles picker independently completes the whole articles picking task, then the system simplicity is maintained, but the travel distance and time consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the articles picking task into multiple sub-tasks, each handled by a different picker responsible for specific areas. This segmentation allows parallel execution of picking operations across different zones, reducing the total travel distance and time compared to a single picker completing the entire task sequentially.
3Productivity
If articles pickers are assigned to specific areas, then the picking efficiency is improved, but the flexibility and adaptability decrease when order requirements change
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic task assignment mechanism where the system can reallocate picking tasks among pickers based on current order requirements, picker availability, and performance metrics. This dynamic adjustment maintains high efficiency by optimizing task distribution while adapting to changing order patterns and picker states.
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosure provides an articles picking method, a control system and an articles picking system, and relates to the technical field of intelligent warehousing. The articles picking method of the present disclosure includes: receiving an order of a single articles picking point of an AGV arriving at an articles picking point, the order of the single articles picking point comprising information of articles belonging to a same articles picking point in one or more orders associated with the AGV; recommending the order of the single articles picking point to articles pickers of no less than a predetermined number; setting the order of the single articles picking point to be an assigned state to avoid the order of the single articles picking point being picked repeatedly in the event that there is an articles picker taking the order of the single articles picking point.