Container Jostling System for Automated Grasping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current object processing systems face inefficiencies in handling objects of varying sizes and weights, often requiring human intervention to assist in presenting objects to programmable motion devices for grasping and processing.
Innovation Solution
A container jostling system that includes movable container contact elements, actuated by an actuator, to vertically and horizontally move containers on a conveyor, facilitating the repositioning of objects within the container to improve accessibility for programmable motion devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If objects are placed in containers for automated processing, then object processing capacity is improved, but objects may be positioned in ways that make them difficult for programmable motion devices to grasp
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by jostling objects within the container before the programmable motion device attempts to grasp them. The contact elements move objects into more accessible positions in advance, ensuring that when the robot needs to grasp an object, it is already in a favorable position for grasping.
Solution Approach 2:
The contact elements serve as an intermediary between the container and the programmable motion device. Rather than the robot directly interacting with objects in potentially difficult-to-reach positions, the contact elements mediate by first repositioning objects into accessible locations, facilitating easier grasping.
2Productivity
If human workers manually present objects to programmable motion devices, then grasping efficiency is improved, but automation level decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements self-service by having objects present themselves to the programmable motion device through automated jostling. The contact elements automatically reposition objects without human intervention, allowing the robot to grasp objects efficiently while maintaining full automation. The system serves itself by preparing objects for grasping without human workers.
3Device complexity
If objects of varying sizes and weights are processed through fixed sequence operations, then system simplicity is maintained, but processing efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system introduces dynamics by allowing contact elements to move objects within the container rather than relying on fixed object positions. This dynamic repositioning capability enables the system to adapt to objects of varying sizes and weights, improving processing efficiency while maintaining relatively simple system architecture. The contact elements can dynamically adjust object positions based on what the programmable motion device needs to grasp next.
Data Source
AI summary
A container jostling system for jostling objects within a container is disclosed, where the container is positioned on a conveyor that includes a plurality of rollers that are mutually spaced from one another. The container jostling system includes at least one container contact element that is movable vertically between at least two rollers of the conveyor, and is movable horizontally in a direction that is substantially parallel with the at least two rollers.