Autonomous Inventory Monitoring for Large Warehouse Yards
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Solution Overview
Problem
Monitoring and managing inventory in large storage facilities such as shipping yards and warehouses is challenging due to the vast area and quantity of inventory, leading to logistical delays, missing inventory, perishable items, and un-ordered items, among other issues.
Innovation Solution
A system utilizing autonomous aerial and ground vehicles equipped with image capture devices and a central processing system for indoor navigation and inventory management, combined with machine learning models to track, recognize, and process inventory data, including path planning and obstruction avoidance, to ensure accurate inventory monitoring and management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If manual inventory monitoring methods are used in large storage facilities, then operational simplicity is maintained, but monitoring accuracy and completeness deteriorate due to vast area and quantity of inventory
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical inventory monitoring with an automated system using drones equipped with sensors, cameras, and LIDAR. These autonomous vehicles navigate storage facilities to capture and transmit inventory data to a central processing system, eliminating the need for manual counting and significantly improving monitoring accuracy while reducing human labor requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The inventory monitoring system operates autonomously through self-navigating drones that automatically patrol storage areas, capture inventory images and data, and transmit information to the central system without requiring human operators to physically access each storage location. The system performs self-monitoring and self-reporting functions.
2Productivity
If traditional inventory tracking systems are deployed, then implementation simplicity is maintained, but real-time monitoring capability deteriorates due to logistical delays and missing inventory
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements continuous inventory monitoring through drones that operate on scheduled patrols or on-demand missions, constantly capturing and updating inventory status. The system maintains uninterrupted surveillance of storage areas, ensuring real-time visibility of inventory levels, locations, and conditions without the gaps inherent in periodic manual checks.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously collects inventory data from drones and transmits it to a central processing system that analyzes the information and provides real-time feedback on inventory status. This feedback loop enables immediate identification of low-stock items, misplaced inventory, or quality issues, allowing rapid response to maintain optimal inventory levels and prevent logistical delays.
3Loss of information
If comprehensive inventory monitoring is implemented across vast storage areas, then inventory visibility is improved, but energy consumption increases due to autonomous vehicle operations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs periodic inventory monitoring where drones conduct scheduled patrols of storage areas rather than continuous operation. Drones can be deployed on-demand based on specific needs such as checking particular zones, responding to alerts, or performing routine audits at set intervals. This periodic operation significantly reduces energy consumption compared to continuous monitoring while maintaining adequate inventory visibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements targeted monitoring by deploying drones to specific high-priority zones or areas with known issues rather than uniformly scanning entire facilities. The central processing system can direct drones to focus on critical storage areas, performing partial but sufficient monitoring that achieves inventory visibility goals with minimal energy expenditure.
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques are described for automating inventory management and monitoring at a storage facility. For example, a sensor system may be configured to capture sensor data associated with inventory stored at the storage facility. The sensor system may utilize the sensor data to extract information usable to monitor (e.g., assess damage), track, and/or order inventory.