Coordinated Transport Robots for Dynamic Warehouse Route Adaptation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing transport robots are unsuitable for distributing a wide variety of articles in distribution warehouses due to their inability to adapt to changing environments, handle diverse article shapes, and navigate around obstacles without pre-defined routes.
Innovation Solution
A transport system comprising two transport robots that can generate and follow dynamic position information to hold and transport articles, allowing for flexible route adjustments and obstacle avoidance based on real-time environmental data.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If transport robots use magnetic tapes or QR codes for navigation, then they can follow fixed routes in factories, but they cannot adapt to changing environments or flexible routes in distribution warehouses
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces magnetic tapes and QR codes (mechanical/optical marking systems) with camera-based visual recognition and image processing systems. The transport robot uses a camera to capture images of the environment, and a control apparatus processes these images to recognize positions and generate navigation information, enabling flexible route adaptation without physical markers on the floor.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates a visual copy of the environment through camera imaging, then processes this image data to extract positional information and generate navigation routes. This allows the robot to understand and navigate the environment without physical guides, adapting to changes in the warehouse layout dynamically.
2Adaptability or versatility
If transport robots follow pre-defined routes, then navigation is simple and reliable, but they cannot avoid obstacles or adjust to changing environments in real-time
Solution Approach 1:
The transport robot continuously captures images of the environment with a camera, and the control apparatus processes these images to detect obstacles and recalculate routes in real-time. This feedback loop allows the system to adapt to changing environments and avoid obstacles while maintaining transport efficiency through dynamic route optimization.
Solution Approach 2:
The navigation system transitions from static pre-defined routes to dynamic real-time route generation. The control apparatus continuously processes camera images and generates navigation information based on current environmental conditions, enabling the robot to adapt its path dynamically while maintaining efficient transport.
3Adaptability or versatility
If two transport robots work independently, then each robot operates autonomously, but they cannot coordinate to efficiently transport large or heavy articles
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables multiple transport robots to work together as a coordinated team. The control apparatus manages the collaboration between robots, allowing them to jointly transport large or heavy articles that single robots cannot handle alone, effectively merging their capabilities while maintaining individual autonomy.
Solution Approach 2:
The transport robot system is designed to perform multiple functions: individual autonomous navigation, collaborative transport of large articles, and adaptive route planning. The control apparatus manages different operation modes, allowing robots to switch between working independently and collaborating based on the transport requirements.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
In order to provide a transport system that smoothly transports a wide variety of articles, the transport system includes a first transport robot, a second transport robot, a generation apparatus, and a control apparatus. The first transport robot and the second transport robot transport an article. The generation apparatus generates position information for the first transport robot and position information for the second transport robot. The control apparatus transmits, to the first transport robot and the second transport robot, control information for transporting the article with the first transport robot and the second transport robot, based on the position information for the first transport robot and the position information for the second transport robot.