Unmanned Conveying Route Control for Cargo Priority Conflicts
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing unmanned conveying systems in factories cannot manage the priority order of cargo being conveyed, which is crucial for efficient manufacturing processes.
Innovation Solution
An unmanned conveying system that includes multiple vehicles, a cargo priority order deciding section, and a traveling route setting section to determine and enforce the priority order of cargo based on conditions such as takt time and size, ensuring that higher priority cargo is conveyed efficiently without being impeded by lower priority cargo.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If multiple unmanned conveying vehicles operate on shared routes, then conveying capacity and flexibility are improved, but congestion and interference between vehicles increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the behavior of conveying vehicles based on real-time conditions. When congestion is detected, the control device dynamically changes the route or timing of lower priority vehicles, allowing the system to adapt to changing traffic conditions and maintain high conveying capacity without constant congestion
Solution Approach 2:
The control device acts as an intermediary that mediates between multiple conveying vehicles. It receives information from detectors about vehicle positions and congestion conditions, then coordinates the vehicles by adjusting routes or timing, preventing direct conflict between vehicles while maintaining overall system productivity
2Productivity
If cargo priority order management is implemented, then manufacturing process efficiency is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-setting priority orders for different types of cargo before conveying begins. The control device stores conveying information including priority levels for each cargo type, allowing it to make automated routing decisions without complex real-time calculations, thus improving manufacturing efficiency while keeping system complexity manageable
Solution Approach 2:
The system manages complexity by changing the parameter of priority order based on cargo type rather than implementing complex real-time optimization. By assigning static priority levels to different cargo categories (e.g., high priority for urgent parts, low priority for non-urgent), the system achieves manufacturing process efficiency without requiring complex decision-making algorithms
3Speed
If lower priority cargo is moved from high priority cargo's route, then high priority cargo conveying is improved, but route utilization efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the conveying system into high priority and low priority streams. When a lower priority vehicle needs to yield to a higher priority vehicle, it is temporarily moved to a different route or held back, creating separate channels for different priority levels. This ensures high priority cargo maintains high conveying speed while the overall route utilization remains efficient through coordinated management
Data Source
AI summary
An unmanned conveying system includes: plural unmanned conveying vehicles that can convey cargo; a cargo priority order deciding section that decides upon a priority order in which the cargo are to be conveyed, in accordance with conditions of the cargo; and a traveling route setting section that decides upon traveling routes of the unmanned conveying vehicles on the basis of the priority order.