AGV Travel Area Control for Variable Warehouse Throughput
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional automated warehouse systems face inefficiencies due to varying operating statuses of automated guided vehicles and stations, leading to unprocessed transport commands, increased vehicle numbers, and reduced transport efficiency, especially when operating ratios change.
Innovation Solution
A controller determines travel areas for automated guided vehicles based on the operating status of automated warehouses and stations, adjusting area sizes to balance vehicle operations and optimize transport efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If the travel area is fixed and determined in advance, then the automated guided vehicle operates with a stable route, but the transport capacity cannot be fully used when operating status changes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the travel area variable rather than fixed. The controller dynamically adjusts the travel area boundaries based on real-time operating status of automated warehouses and stations. When demand increases, the travel area expands to include more warehouses/stations; when demand decreases, it contracts. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction by maintaining route stability through controlled changes rather than arbitrary reconfiguration.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of travel area size based on operating status. The controller monitors the number of automated warehouses and stations in operation, then adjusts the travel area parameter accordingly. This parameter change allows the system to adapt to varying demand levels, ensuring high transport capacity utilization while maintaining operational stability through systematic adjustment rather than chaos.
2Productivity
If many automated guided vehicles travel between the automated warehouse and the station, then the transport capacity increases, but collision avoidance requires longer routes and waiting time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the overall travel route into multiple travel areas based on operating status. When many automated guided vehicles are operating, the system divides the area into smaller zones, allowing vehicles to operate in parallel without conflict. This segmentation reduces waiting time and collision risks while maintaining high transport capacity through coordinated multi-zone operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces spatial dimensionality by creating multiple travel areas at different locations. Instead of all vehicles sharing a single congested route, vehicles are distributed across multiple spatial zones. This dimensional approach allows simultaneous operations in different areas, reducing waiting time while maintaining overall transport capacity.
3Productivity
If the travel area is enlarged to handle more transport commands, then the transport capacity increases, but the operating status of automated guided vehicles becomes more sensitive to warehouse and station status changes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the travel area dynamically adjustable rather than fixed. When operating status changes occur in automated warehouses or stations, the controller automatically adjusts the travel area boundaries and reassigns vehicles. This dynamic response reduces sensitivity to status changes by adapting the system configuration to match current operational conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback control where the controller continuously monitors the operating status of automated warehouses and stations, then adjusts travel area configuration accordingly. This feedback mechanism allows the system to respond to status changes systematically, maintaining optimal transport capacity while adapting to varying operational conditions rather than being overly sensitive to individual changes.
Data Source
AI summary
An automated warehouse system includes automated warehouses, work stations, a travel route, automated guided vehicles, and a controller. The travel route is accessible to the automated warehouses and the work stations. The automated guided vehicles travel along the travel route. The controller determines an area including at least a portion of the travel route as a travel area in which the automated guided vehicle travels, and controls the automated guided vehicle to transport an article between the automated warehouse and the work stations belonging to the travel area. The controller determines size of the travel area, in which the automated guided vehicle travels, based on the operating status of at least one of the automated warehouse and the work station.