Autonomous Order Pickup Exception Routing With Container Handoff
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Solution Overview
Problem
Inventory management systems face challenges in efficiently handling exceptions such as out-of-stock items, damaged goods, or items that cannot be collected by autonomous vehicles, leading to resource-intensive workarounds and potential backlogs in order fulfillment.
Innovation Solution
A computing system that reconfigures the path of autonomous vehicles to deposit exceptional items at a storage location, allowing a second vehicle to collect the items once the issue is resolved, thereby batching outstanding items into new picklists and integrating them into regular warehouse operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If autonomous vehicles stop to handle exceptions manually, then exception resolution is achieved, but order fulfillment productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts exceptional items from the main order fulfillment flow by directing autonomous vehicles to deposit them at a storage location rather than handling them manually at order stations. This separation allows the majority of orders to continue processing while exceptions are resolved independently, maintaining overall productivity while ensuring reliable exception handling.
2Reliability
If human workers manually handle exceptional items, then exceptions are resolved, but resource consumption and operational complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-service for exception handling by using autonomous vehicles to automatically transport exceptional items from order stations to a storage location. The vehicles independently identify, collect, and deposit exceptions without requiring human workers to physically handle each exceptional item, thereby reducing operational complexity while maintaining reliable resolution.
3Manufacturing precision
If autonomous vehicles wait for exceptions to be resolved, then item accuracy is ensured, but processing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by having autonomous vehicles deposit exceptional items at a storage location in advance, before the underlying issues are fully resolved. This allows the vehicles to continue their normal order fulfillment routes without waiting, while the exceptional items are prepared and matched with appropriate orders later, thereby maintaining item accuracy while minimizing processing time delays.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein are systems and methods for managing exceptions to orders collected by autonomous vehicles. The exemplary systems may be configured to receive an indication of an exception that at least one item for an order cannot be collected with a first autonomous vehicle carrying a container associated with the order and determine a reconfigured path for the first vehicle responsive to receiving the indication of the exception. The reconfigured path may include a stop at a storage location configured to store containers associated with the exception. The systems may be configured to receive an indication that the container was removed from the first vehicle and deposited at the storage location, transmit an instruction to a second autonomous vehicle to collect the at least one item for the order, and receive an indication that the at least one item has been matched with the container deposited at the storage location.