AMR Queueing Space Visualization for Occupied Work Locations
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current systems fail to effectively model and visualize non-work time for autonomous mobile robots (AMRs), leading to inefficiencies in fleet management, as they do not account for utility locations such as charging stations and service areas, and lack a visual representation for human operators to understand robot availability and manage multiple queueing spaces.
Innovation Solution
A system that defines queueing spaces associated with workspace locations, allowing AMRs to request access and directing them to queueing spaces if the location is occupied, with a management system generating computer displays showing status and enabling creation of these spaces, including utility locations like charging stations and service areas.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If the system visualizes only work locations for robotic operations, then the visualization system remains simple, but fleet management efficiency deteriorates due to lack of information about robot availability and non-work states
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the facility into distinct work locations and queueing spaces, allowing separate visualization and management of each type of location. This segmentation enables comprehensive fleet management information while maintaining organized, manageable system complexity through modular spatial decomposition.
2Reliability
If the system directs AMRs to queueing spaces when locations are occupied, then traffic jams are prevented, but robot productivity decreases due to waiting time in queueing spaces
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary routing actions by directing AMRs to queueing spaces before they would block work locations or create traffic jams. This preliminary organization of robot flow prevents congestion while maintaining clear visibility of queueing status, allowing operators to monitor and manage waiting robots separately from actively working robots.
3Loss of information
If the system monitors all locations including utility locations, then complete fleet management is achieved, but system complexity increases due to additional monitoring requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The visualization system applies universal monitoring principles across all location types (work locations, queueing spaces, and utility locations). The same graphical interface and monitoring mechanisms handle diverse location types uniformly, achieving comprehensive fleet management information while avoiding the complexity increase that would result from specialized monitoring systems for each location type.
Data Source
AI summary
A system comprises a management system comprising at least one processor configured to define a set of queueing spaces associated with a workspace location for reach of a plurality of locations. In response to a request by an autonomous mobile robot (AMR) for access to the location, the management system is configured to grant access to the requesting AMR if the location is unoccupied or direct the requesting AMR to a queueing space associated with the location if the location is occupied by another AMR. In response to a signal indicating the location has been exited by the other AMR, the management system is configured to send instructions to the requesting AMR granting access to the location.