Article Handling Control for Robot-Operator Task Routing
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Solution Overview
Problem
In handling systems that manage diverse types of articles, robots face inefficiencies in handling articles of special shapes or materials, leading to increased development costs and the need for human operator intervention, especially in dynamic environments like distribution warehouses where article types frequently change, making it difficult for robots and operators to cooperate efficiently.
Innovation Solution
A handling system that includes a control device determining whether a target article should be processed by a robot or an operator based on past handling data, using a conveyance system to transport the article to either a robot or an operator, allowing for efficient cooperation between the two.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If robots are equipped with specialized end effectors to handle articles of special shape or material, then handling capability for specific article types is improved, but development costs and system complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a unified robot system with interchangeable end effectors that can handle multiple article types. Instead of creating specialized robots for each article type, the system uses a single robot platform that can be configured with different end effectors based on the article being processed. This universal approach reduces development costs while maintaining high adaptability across diverse article shapes and materials.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically selects which robot or operator should process each article type based on real-time analysis of article characteristics and historical handling data. The control device adapts the allocation of processing tasks between robots and operators according to the specific article being handled, optimizing the use of available resources without requiring permanent specialized configurations for each article type.
2Adaptability or versatility
If human operators handle articles that are difficult for robots to process, then handling flexibility is improved, but labor costs and operational efficiency decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates a control device that collects and analyzes historical handling data to determine the optimal allocation of articles between robots and operators. This feedback mechanism continuously learns from past performance, identifying which article types are best handled by robots versus operators, thereby optimizing the division of labor to maximize both flexibility and productivity simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
Before articles reach the processing stage, the control device pre-determines the optimal handler (robot or operator) based on article characteristics and historical data. This preliminary assignment allows for efficient routing and minimizes idle time, ensuring that articles are always directed to the most suitable processor without requiring manual intervention for decision-making.
3Productivity
If the handling system is designed for high-speed automated processing, then productivity is improved, but adaptability to changing article types decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts its operation mode based on the article being processed. The control device analyzes article characteristics and determines whether each article should be processed by a robot or an operator, allowing the system to maintain high-speed automated processing for suitable articles while flexibly routing complex articles to operators. This dynamic allocation preserves productivity while adapting to diverse and changing article types.
Solution Approach 2:
The handling system is segmented into multiple independent processing paths with both robotic and human operators. This segmentation allows different article types to be processed simultaneously through different paths optimized for their specific requirements, maintaining overall system productivity while providing adaptability to handle varying article characteristics without requiring the entire system to slow down or reconfigure.
Data Source
AI summary
A handling system according to an embodiment handles/processes plural kinds of articles. The handling system includes first and second conveyance devices, and a control device. The first conveyance device transports a processing target article among the articles to a work area for a robot to handle/process the target article. The second conveyance device transports the target article to a work area for as operator to handle/process the target article. The control device determines by which of the robot or the operator the target article is processed according to process information generated based on an article handling/processing result by the robot in past. The control device transports the target article to the first conveyance device when the target article is determined to be processed by the robot and transports the target article to the second conveyance device when the target article is determined to be processed by the operator.