Conveyor Vehicle Routing and Speed Control Under Congestion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conveyor systems face inefficiencies and production disturbances due to congestion and unexpected obstacles, particularly when managing large numbers of conveyor vehicles and objects, which can lead to energy wastage and increased costs.
Innovation Solution
A method for controlling conveyor vehicles that involves determining a conveying job data set containing configuration, job-specific, and object-specific data, which can be updated and corrected based on real-time system states, allowing for optimized routing and speed profiles to adapt to changing conditions, while considering energy efficiency, wear minimization, and production optimization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If predefined routes are used for conveyor vehicles, then the control system is simple and easy to operate, but the system cannot adapt to unexpected obstacles or disturbances causing congestion and production disturbances
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic route determination where the control system calculates optimal routes in real-time based on current system state, vehicle positions, and disturbances. This replaces static predefined routes with dynamically adapted paths, allowing the system to respond to obstacles and congestion while maintaining operational simplicity through automated calculation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors the current state of the conveying system including vehicle positions, congestion levels, and disturbances. This feedback is used by the control system to recalculate and update routes dynamically, ensuring adaptability to changing conditions while maintaining simple operation through automated closed-loop control.
2Productivity
If individual conveying job data sets are determined for each conveyor vehicle and job, then conveying precision and efficiency are improved, but the computational complexity and control system complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a universal control system that handles multiple functions: determining individual conveying job data sets, calculating routes, optimizing speeds, and coordinating multiple vehicles. This multi-functional approach achieves high conveying efficiency through personalized job planning while avoiding the complexity of multiple separate control systems by using a single integrated controller.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system dynamically determines and adjusts parameters such as routes, speeds, and timing for each conveying job based on current system state. This parameter optimization for individual jobs improves productivity while the automated calculation processes manage the complexity, transforming complex individual planning into a systematic automated procedure.
3Productivity
If conveyor vehicles operate at higher speeds to increase productivity, then output is improved, but energy consumption and wear increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic speed optimization where the control system determines optimal speeds for each conveying job and vehicle based on route characteristics, load conditions, and system state. This allows vehicles to operate at higher speeds when appropriate to increase productivity while reducing speed to minimize energy consumption and wear during less critical phases, achieving a balanced optimization of both productivity and energy efficiency.
Data Source
AI summary
In order to provide a method for controlling conveyor vehicles of a conveying system which permits an energy-efficient and cost-efficient operation of said conveying system, it is proposed that the method comprises:Making available a plurality of conveyor vehicles of the conveying system;Specifying a conveying job for conveying one or more conveyed objects;Determining a conveying job data set for controlling a conveyor vehicle when performing the conveying job;Carrying out the conveying job.