Systems and methods for autonomously loading and unloading autonomous vehicles

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Solution Overview

Problem

The high cost and reduced efficiency of autonomous robot operations due to human facilitation in various aspects of robot operation, leading to slowed systems and reduced throughput.

Innovation Solution

An autonomous system for loading and unloading autonomous vehicles, equipped with modules, a robotic movement apparatus, processors, and memory that autonomously moves items using imaging information to identify available spaces and locate items within compartments, and includes communication systems for authentication and access control.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If human facilitators are involved in autonomous robot operation, then operational reliability is improved, but productivity decreases and operational costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperational reliabilityVSAvoidsystem throughput

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The autonomous vehicle performs loading and unloading operations independently using its own robotic movement apparatus, eliminating the need for human facilitators. The vehicle autonomously identifies items, determines their destinations, and executes transfer operations without human intervention, thereby maintaining reliability while improving productivity and reducing operational costs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces human mechanical operations with an automated robotic movement apparatus that uses imaging devices, processors, and memory to perform loading and unloading. This substitution eliminates human involvement entirely, resolving the contradiction by achieving both high reliability through automated precision and high productivity through continuous autonomous operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Reliability

If human facilitators are involved in autonomous robot operation, then operational reliability is improved, but loss of time increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperational reliabilityVSAvoidoperation time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The autonomous vehicle independently performs all loading and unloading operations without waiting for human facilitators. The vehicle's onboard systems autonomously complete transfer operations, significantly reducing the time lost to human intervention while maintaining operational reliability through automated precision and consistency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The robotic movement apparatus enables continuous loading and unloading operations without the interruptions inherent in human-facilitated processes. The autonomous system can operate continuously with minimal downtime, eliminating delays associated with human response times and maintaining uninterrupted useful action throughout the operational cycle.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

3Productivity

If autonomous loading and unloading systems are implemented, then productivity is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem throughputVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The autonomous vehicle employs a universal robotic movement apparatus that can handle multiple types of items and perform both loading and unloading operations. The imaging device and processing system serve multiple functions including item identification, destination determination, and operational control, thereby achieving high productivity without proportionally increasing device complexity through multi-functional integration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent combines the robotic movement apparatus, imaging devices, processors, and memory into an integrated autonomous system. By merging these components into a unified control architecture, the system achieves high productivity through automation while managing complexity through integration rather than separate independent systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

4Loss of time

If autonomous loading and unloading systems are implemented, then loss of time is reduced, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperation timeVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces time-consuming human operations with an automated robotic movement apparatus controlled by imaging devices and processors. This substitution dramatically reduces operation time by eliminating human response delays while managing complexity through automated decision-making algorithms that determine item destinations and execute transfer operations autonomously.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS10864885B2Systems and methods for autonomously loading and unloading autonomous vehicles

Publication Date: 2020.12.15 NURO INC

AI summary

An autonomous system for loading or unloading an autonomous vehicle, in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure, includes one or more module(s) that include at least one of a compartment or a sub-compartment where the module(s) are located in an autonomous vehicle, a robotic movement apparatus configured to autonomously move items to or from the module(s), one or more processors, and at least one memory storing instructions which, when executed by the processor(s), cause the autonomous system to autonomously move an item, using the robotic movement apparatus, to or from the at least one module of the autonomous vehicle.