Automation Arbitration Controller for Conflicting Vehicle Requests

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Solution Overview

Problem

Material handling vehicles with multiple automation controllers face challenges in efficiently managing and arbitrating concurrent automation requests, leading to potential operational conflicts and increased complexity for native vehicle controllers.

Innovation Solution

An automation arbitration controller system that arbitrates multiple automation requests by considering vehicle parameters, sets operational control limits, and prioritizes requests to ensure safe and efficient operation, allowing for seamless switching between manual, semi-autonomous, and autonomous modes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Extent of automation

If multiple automation controllers are added to control vehicle operation, then the extent of automation is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveautomation control capabilityVSAvoidcontroller system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Extent of automationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

An arbitration controller is introduced as an intermediary component between multiple automation controllers and the native vehicle controller. The arbitration controller receives control requests from multiple automation controllers, arbitrates between conflicting requests using predefined rules and priorities, and forwards the resolved requests to the native vehicle controller. This mediator architecture resolves the technical contradiction by enabling multiple automation controllers to coexist without direct interference, thus improving automation extent while managing system complexity through structured coordination.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple automation controllers independently control vehicle operation, then the adaptability is improved, but operational conflicts increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontrol strategy diversityVSAvoidoperational conflict frequency

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The arbitration controller serves as a mediator that receives diverse control requests from multiple automation controllers with different control strategies, evaluates their compatibility and priority, and resolves conflicts before forwarding to the vehicle controller. This maintains adaptability by preserving multiple control strategies while improving reliability through systematic conflict resolution.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The arbitration controller performs preliminary evaluation and resolution of control requests before they reach the vehicle execution layer. By pre-arbitrating between conflicting requests using predefined rules and priorities, the system prevents operational conflicts from manifesting in actual vehicle operation, thus improving reliability while maintaining strategy diversity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Device complexity

If the native vehicle controller handles all automation requests directly, then the device complexity is reduced, but the productivity decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontroller architecture simplicityVSAvoidautomation request processing efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The control architecture is segmented into distinct functional layers: the arbitration controller handles the complex task of receiving, evaluating, and resolving multiple automation requests, while the native vehicle controller focuses on executing the final resolved commands. This segmentation improves productivity by distributing processing loads according to each controller's strengths, even though it introduces additional architectural complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The arbitration controller acts as an intermediary processing layer that specializes in handling the complexity of multiple automation requests. By offloading the arbitration function from the native vehicle controller, the system improves overall processing efficiency and productivity, as each controller can focus on its specialized function without being burdened by conflicting responsibilities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS11740631B2Systems and methods for an arbitration controller to arbitrate multiple automation requests on a material handling vehicle

Publication Date: 2023.08.29 RAYMOND LTD

AI summary

An automation arbitration controller system is provided. The automation arbitration controller is configured to arbitrate a multiple of automation requests on a material handling vehicle, which includes a material handling vehicle controller. The automation arbitration controller can be connected to at least one automation controller via an automation communication bus. The automation controller can be configured to send one or more automation requests. The automation arbitration controller can also be connected to a material handling vehicle controller via a vehicle communication bus. The material handling vehicle controller can be configured to send one or more automation requests.