AMR Zone-Based Load Handling Without Fixed Pickup Points
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) require significant training and computer processing to navigate and operate within predetermined routes and lanes, limiting their flexibility and efficiency in material movement, as they need to know specific locations for payload delivery or retrieval.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that allow AMRs to determine reachable positions within a general region using sensors, enabling them to pick up or drop off payloads without predefined locations, by employing object detection and presence sensors to navigate and interact with objects in a lane zone.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional AMRs use predetermined routes and lanes with specific locations for payload delivery, then navigation reliability is improved, but training time and processing requirements increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The AMR uses its own sensors to autonomously determine reachable positions within a zone without requiring external training or predefined location data. The system serves itself by using real-time sensor data to identify valid payload interaction locations, eliminating the need for time-consuming training processes while maintaining navigation reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from static predetermined routes to dynamic zone-based navigation where reachable positions are determined in real-time based on sensor data. The AMR can adaptively identify valid locations within zones during operation, allowing flexible payload delivery without fixed predetermined paths
2Manufacturing precision
If conventional AMRs operate within predetermined routes with defined locations, then operational precision is improved, but flexibility and adaptability decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the operational space into zones with multiple possible reachable positions rather than requiring precise predetermined locations. Within each zone, the AMR can select from multiple valid positions based on real-time sensor data, providing both zone-level precision and position-level flexibility for payload operations
Solution Approach 2:
The zone-based approach allows the same zone to serve multiple functions and accommodate multiple valid payload interaction positions. The AMR can perform payload delivery, retrieval, or both operations within the same zone at different reachable positions, increasing operational versatility without sacrificing precision
3Measurement precision
If conventional AMRs use predetermined routes with specific locations, then task completion accuracy is improved, but processing requirements and system complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts the location determination function from complex predetermined route definitions and implements it through simple sensor-based reachable position detection. Instead of relying on stored route data and complex navigation logic, the AMR uses sensors to directly identify valid positions within zones, reducing system complexity while maintaining task completion accuracy
Data Source
AI summary
A robotic vehicle, such as an autonomous mobile robot (AMR), is provided, comprising a chassis, a navigation system, and a load engagement portion, a plurality of sensors, including an object detection sensor, and a load interaction system. The AMR is configured to perform a load drop and a load pickup within a zone without using predetermined load pick up and drop off locations within the zone. The AMR can determine where to place a load within the zone based on proximity to another object or physical structure within the zone. A location of the zone on the AMR's route can be trained, but pickup and drop locations within the zone can be untrained and undefined in advance.