Centralized Transport Control for Virtualized Facility Dispatch
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing automated transportation systems face inefficiencies and instability due to the physical proximity of transportation facility control systems to the facilities they manage, leading to reduced resource utilization, increased space requirements, and delayed response times to failures.
Innovation Solution
An integrated control system is established in a spatially separated server room, comprising virtualized hosts managing multiple transportation facility control systems, including a Material Control System (MCS) and Real-Time Dispatcher (RTD), which transmit transport commands to control transportation facilities like AGVs, OHTs, and stacker cranes, enhancing resource utilization and fault response.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If transportation facility control systems are physically proximate to the facilities they manage, then ease of operation and maintenance is improved, but space requirements increase and resource utilization decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The control functions are extracted from the physical facility locations and consolidated into a centralized control room. The control systems are separated from the transportation facilities they manage, allowing the facilities to be located optimally without requiring dedicated control system space at each location.
Solution Approach 2:
The centralized control system serves multiple transportation facilities simultaneously through a single control location. This multi-functional control approach allows one control room to manage various types of transportation equipment including AGVs, OHTs, stacker cranes, and conveyors.
2Loss of time
If control systems are distributed near each transportation facility, then response time to local issues is improved, but resource utilization and system integration efficiency decrease
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple control systems for different transportation facilities are merged into a single integrated control system located in the centralized control room. This consolidation improves resource utilization by sharing hardware, software, and operational personnel across all facilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system implements real-time monitoring and feedback mechanisms that enable rapid response to facility issues despite the physical separation. Sensors and communication systems provide continuous status information, allowing the centralized control system to detect and respond to problems quickly.
3Productivity
If control systems are centralized in a separate location, then resource utilization and system stability are improved, but ease of operation and accessibility deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
Communication systems and control networks serve as intermediaries between the centralized control room and the distributed transportation facilities. This enables operators to access and control facilities remotely while maintaining system stability through centralized management.
Solution Approach 2:
Physical proximity-based control is replaced with electronic communication and network-based control systems. Operators can access and control facilities through digital interfaces and communication networks, eliminating the need for physical presence at each facility while maintaining full control capability.
Data Source
AI summary
An automated transportation system includes a facility layer including at least one first transportation facility, and a system layer, in which an integrated control system controlling the at least one first transportation facility, a material control system (MCS) controlling a transport command with respect to the integrated control system, an application server managing a Real-Time Dispatcher (RTD), and a database storing information corresponding to an operation of the material control system and the real-time dispatcher are established. The facility layer and the system layer are spatially separated. Therefore, in the automated transportation system, the integrated server may be efficiently and stably operated, to quickly respond to a problem when a problem occurs in the system.