Autonomous Load Carriers for Warehouse-Free Plant Logistics
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing technical plants require defined goods entry and exit regions and material warehouses for temporary storage, leading to inefficiencies in space utilization and increased capital costs.
Innovation Solution
A method utilizing autonomously driving load carriers that transport goods and products within a technical plant, eliminating the need for defined storage regions and material warehouses, allowing for seamless movement and reducing the need for reloading goods and products.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If defined goods entry regions and material warehouses are provided for temporary storage, then goods and products can be stored until further processing or shipment, but surface area in the building is consumed and capital costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by replacing static storage regions with dynamic, movable load carriers. Instead of fixed goods entry regions and material warehouses, the system uses autonomously driving load carriers that can move goods and products throughout the technical plant as needed. This transforms the storage system from a static spatial arrangement to a dynamic mobile system, eliminating the need for dedicated storage areas while maintaining storage capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The load carriers are equipped with autonomous navigation capabilities and can transport goods and products independently without requiring fixed infrastructure. The self-service principle is embodied in the load carriers' ability to autonomously navigate to work areas, transport centers, and shipping areas, replacing the need for predefined storage locations with self-directed mobile transport units.
2Reliability
If defined goods entry regions and material warehouses are provided for temporary storage, then goods and products can be stored until further processing or shipment, but capital costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
By implementing dynamic mobile load carriers instead of static storage infrastructure, the patent reduces capital costs associated with constructing and maintaining fixed storage regions. The movable load carriers provide flexible storage and transport capabilities without requiring expensive building modifications or dedicated storage space allocation.
Solution Approach 2:
The autonomous load carriers serve as self-service transport units that eliminate the need for expensive fixed storage infrastructure. By using independently navigating load carriers, the system reduces capital investment in building storage regions while maintaining full storage and transport functionality.
3Area of stationary object
If load carriers autonomously transport goods and products without defined storage regions, then surface area is saved and capital costs are reduced, but transport continuity must be maintained without interruption
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms through the control systems of autonomously driving load carriers. These control systems monitor the positions, statuses, and destinations of load carriers, enabling real-time coordination to maintain continuous transport operations. The feedback loops ensure that load carriers can navigate autonomously while maintaining productivity and transport continuity without fixed storage regions.
Data Source
AI summary
In a method for operating a technical plant, which includes a work area for producing ready-to-ship products from delivered goods and a plurality of load carriers, each including a control, a drive connected to the control, and a communication interface, for transporting goods and for transporting products, goods are delivered to the technical plant, delivered goods are transported into the work area by the load carriers, products are produced in the work area from the goods transported into the work area, produced products are transported out of the work area by the load carriers, and products transported out of the work area are shipped out from the technical plant. A technical plant, which includes a work area for producing ready-to-ship products made from delivered goods, is operable using the method.