Automated Goods Transfer With Dual Navigation for Safe Unloading
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing delivery systems for goods, such as rolls of material, are often inefficient and time-consuming, requiring manual intervention and posing risks to both personnel and equipment due to the difficulty in accurately and safely transferring goods from delivery vehicles to warehouses.
Innovation Solution
An automated delivery system utilizing an industrial truck with a height-adjustable gripping device, object recognition, and navigation systems for contactless transfer, including sensors and cameras for precise identification and positioning, allowing for safe and efficient unloading without human intervention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If manual transfer of goods from delivery vehicle to warehouse is used, then personnel can handle various goods flexibly, but it is time-consuming and poses safety risks to personnel and equipment
Solution Approach 1:
The transfer arrangement is equipped with its own navigation devices (first and second navigation devices) and goods identification device, enabling it to autonomously navigate to the delivery vehicle, identify goods to be transferred, and execute the transfer operation without human intervention. This self-service capability eliminates safety risks to personnel while maintaining high transfer efficiency through automated operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the manual mechanical transfer operation with an automated system that uses navigation devices for positioning, goods identification device for recognizing transfer targets, and an automated gripping mechanism. This substitution of manual mechanical operations with automated systems resolves the contradiction by eliminating personnel exposure to safety risks while improving transfer efficiency through precise, rapid automated operations.
2Reliability
If automated transfer arrangement is used, then safety risks to personnel are eliminated, but the system complexity increases due to multiple navigation devices and sensors
Solution Approach 1:
The transfer arrangement integrates multiple functions into a single system: the first navigation device handles coarse positioning and route planning, the second navigation device handles fine positioning near the delivery vehicle, and the goods identification device handles target recognition. This multi-functional integration achieves high safety protection while managing system complexity through coordinated operation of specialized components rather than multiple independent systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The navigation system is segmented into two distinct navigation devices with different functions: the first navigation device for general navigation and positioning at larger scales, and the second navigation device for precise positioning in the immediate vicinity of the delivery vehicle. This segmentation allows each device to be optimized for its specific function, achieving high safety and reliability while keeping individual component complexity manageable.
3Measurement precision
If the transfer arrangement uses a single navigation device, then the system is simpler, but it cannot achieve both coarse navigation and precise positioning near the delivery vehicle
Solution Approach 1:
The navigation system is divided into two segments: the first navigation device that operates continuously for coarse navigation and route planning from the transfer arrangement's starting position to the delivery vehicle location, and the second navigation device that activates specifically in the immediate vicinity of the delivery vehicle for fine positioning and precise alignment during the transfer operation. This segmentation enables high positioning accuracy at each stage while managing overall system complexity through clear functional division.
Solution Approach 2:
The first navigation device performs preliminary navigation and positioning actions in advance to bring the transfer arrangement into the general vicinity of the delivery vehicle. This preliminary action prepares the system for the subsequent fine positioning phase, allowing the second navigation device to focus solely on precise positioning without needing to handle the entire navigation sequence, thereby achieving high positioning accuracy while managing complexity through staged operation.
4Productivity
If goods are manually unloaded from the delivery vehicle, then flexibility in handling various goods is maintained, but the process is time-consuming and labor-intensive
Solution Approach 1:
The goods identification device on the transfer arrangement autonomously identifies goods in the delivery vehicle and determines which goods should be transferred, eliminating the need for manual assessment and decision-making. The system then automatically navigates to the identified goods, grasps them, and transfers them to the warehouse, achieving high unloading speed while completely eliminating manual labor requirements through self-service automation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual unloading operations with an automated mechanical system that uses the goods identification device for target recognition, navigation devices for positioning, and an automated gripping mechanism for grasping and transferring goods. This mechanical substitution achieves high unloading speed by eliminating human reaction time and manual handling limitations while completely removing manual labor requirements through full automation.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a delivery system comprising a delivery vehicle (62) for delivering goods (11) and at least one automated transfer arrangement (25) including an object recognition device (104) for the automated transfer of the goods (11) from the delivery vehicle (62) to a goods storage area (10). The delivery system also includes a safety device for securing a movement area of the transfer arrangement (25) during unloading of the goods (11).