Auto-Shuttle Object Processing With Mobile Carriages
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional automated storage and retrieval systems (AS/RS) are limited by the time and resources required to move totes towards and away from individuals, and the speed at which people can process totes, especially when handling a large number of objects, necessitating a more efficient and cost-effective system that assists in the processing of a variety of objects.
Innovation Solution
A storage, retrieval, and processing system incorporating programmable motion devices and movable carriages that grasp and move selected objects from storage bins to destination bins, utilizing a retrieval conveyance system and perception units to optimize grasp locations and facilitate scalable object handling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional AS/RS uses totes brought to people for item picking, then the system allows separation of automated transport and manual processing, but the time and resources required to move totes towards and away from each person increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of bringing totes to stationary workers, the system inverts the approach by bringing workers to the totes on mobile carts. This allows the automated system to deliver totes directly to moving workstations, eliminating the time-consuming back-and-forth tote transport while maintaining the separation of automated and manual tasks.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces dynamic mobile carts that can move workers to different locations as needed. This dynamic configuration allows the system to adapt tote delivery locations in real-time, reducing unnecessary tote movement time while maintaining operational flexibility and the division between automated transport and manual processing.
2Ease of operation
If traditional AS/RS brings totes to people for processing, then the person can pick items from totes, but the speed at which people can process totes is limited when handling a large number of objects
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges automated components (mobile carts with scanners, displays, and item holders) with manual processing (workers picking items). This combination allows workers to process multiple totes in sequence on moving carts without waiting for tote return trips, significantly increasing processing speed while maintaining the ability to manually pick items.
Solution Approach 2:
The mobile cart system enables continuous processing by delivering the next tote to the worker immediately after the current tote is processed. This eliminates idle time between tote handling operations, allowing workers to maintain continuous productive action when handling large numbers of objects while preserving manual picking capabilities.
3Ease of operation
If conventional systems use stationary workstations with tote delivery, then the person may stand in one place while the transport system brings totes, but the rate at which the person can pick goods is limited by tote movement time
Solution Approach 1:
The system inverts the traditional arrangement by making the workstation mobile rather than stationary. The mobile cart with the worker moves to receive totes directly at the delivery location, eliminating the need for totes to travel back to a fixed workstation. This maintains worker stability while dramatically increasing the rate of goods picking through continuous tote availability.
Data Source
AI summary
A storage, retrieval and processing system for processing objects is disclosed. The storage, retrieval and processing system includes a plurality of storage bins providing storage of a plurality of objects, where the plurality of storage bins is in communication with a retrieval conveyance system, a programmable motion device in communication with the retrieval conveyance system for receiving the storage bins from the plurality of bins, where the programmable motion device includes an end effector for grasping and moving a selected object out of a selected storage bin, and a movable carriage for receiving the selected object from the end effector of the programmable motion device, and for carrying the selected object to one of a plurality of destination bins.