Cross-Area Transport Routing Using Real-Time Facility Status
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing transport systems fail to set appropriate paths for transporting articles between areas controlled by different control units, as they do not account for real-time transportation status changes due to congestion or other factors, leading to inefficient routes.
Innovation Solution
A transport system that includes a management control unit to set overall paths based on transportation status information of first area, second area, and connecting transport facilities, with separate control units for each area and connecting facilities to adjust paths dynamically, ensuring the path is optimized considering real-time conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If management devices share information of all transport paths in advance, then path search capability is improved, but path appropriateness deteriorates when transport status changes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic path setting where the management control unit determines transport paths in real-time based on current transportation status information, rather than using static pre-shared path information. This allows the system to adapt to changing conditions such as congestion or facility status changes, ensuring path appropriateness while maintaining efficient information sharing among control units.
2Productivity
If a single management device controls all areas, then path optimization is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the transport system into multiple areas (first area, second area, etc.) each with its own control unit, while introducing a management control unit that coordinates between areas. This segmentation allows each area to be controlled independently for efficiency while the management control unit provides overall optimization, balancing productivity with manageable system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The management control unit acts as an intermediary between area control units, receiving transportation status information from and determining transport paths for articles moving between areas. This mediator approach enables centralized optimization without requiring a single control device to directly manage all facilities, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining transport efficiency.
3Speed
If path is determined without real-time status information, then response speed is improved, but route efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The management control unit acquires transportation status information in advance before determining the transport path for the target article. By obtaining current status data (congestion, facility availability) prior to path determination, the system can make quick decisions based on up-to-date information, achieving both fast response speed and high transport efficiency through informed routing.
Data Source
AI summary
In a case where the target article is transported between areas, a management control unit executes path setting control, a first area control unit executes first area transport control, a connection control unit executes connecting transport control, and a second area control unit executes second area transport control. With the path setting control, an overall path from a departure point to a destination point is set on the basis of transportation status information of a first area transport facility, a second area transport facility, and a plurality of connecting transport facilities. With the second area transport control, a partial path from a second transfer position of a target connecting transport facility to the destination point is set on the basis of transportation status information of the second area transport facility.