Docking Mobile Robots and Climbing Pick Robots for Rack Throughput
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing storage facility systems face challenges such as infeasible or costly installation, limited throughput, and navigation issues due to the design of mother-child robot systems, leading to inefficiencies in goods storage and retrieval.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a mobile robot assembly with a docking arrangement and pick and drop robots that can traverse vertically along a racking structure, utilizing a latch and climb arrangement to engage and extend/retract for picking and dropping loads, along with a guidance system for precise navigation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If existing autonomous mobile robots are used for storage and retrieval, then the system can operate autonomously, but the throughput is limited due to construction and design constraints
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the storage and retrieval function into two independent units: a mobile robot assembly that handles autonomous navigation and a pick and drop robot that handles load operations. This segmentation allows each unit to be optimized for its specific function, enabling the mobile robot to navigate independently while the pick and drop robot performs high-speed storage and retrieval operations, thereby increasing overall throughput without compromising autonomous operation
Solution Approach 2:
The mobile robot assembly acts as an intermediary that transports the pick and drop robot to the racking structure. This intermediary role allows the system to decouple navigation functions from load handling functions, enabling parallel operations where the mobile robot can reposition the pick and drop robot while other robots are engaged in storage or retrieval tasks, thus improving system throughput
2Ease of operation
If mother-child robot systems are used, then navigation capability is provided, but the mother unit cannot navigate while the child unit performs tasks, leading to time wastage
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the navigation and load handling functions into separate units. The mobile robot assembly can navigate to and from the racking structure independently, carrying the pick and drop robot. This allows continuous operation where navigation and load handling occur in parallel rather than sequentially, eliminating the time loss inherent in mother-child systems where the mother unit must wait for the child unit to complete tasks
Solution Approach 2:
The mobile robot assembly performs preliminary navigation actions to position the pick and drop robot at the racking structure before the actual storage or retrieval operation begins. This preliminary positioning allows the pick and drop robot to immediately engage in load operations without waiting for navigation completion, thereby reducing overall task time and eliminating navigation downtime
3Extent of automation
If autonomous mobile robots navigate through storage racks, then storage and retrieval operations can be performed, but installation into existing facilities is not feasible or is very expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The system is divided into a mobile robot assembly that operates independently and a pick and drop robot that attaches to the racking structure. This segmentation allows the mobile robot assembly to be introduced into existing facilities without requiring modification of the racking structure itself, making installation feasible and cost-effective while still providing automated storage and retrieval operations
Solution Approach 2:
The mobile robot assembly is designed as a universal platform that can operate with different pick and drop robots and adapt to various racking structures. This multi-functionality allows the system to be deployed in existing facilities with different configurations without requiring custom installation for each facility, thereby improving installation feasibility and reducing costs
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a system for managing loads in a storage facility. The system comprises: a racking structure configured to store loads; mobile robot assembly(ies) (MRA(s)) operable to traverse within a storage facility, wherein MRA(s) comprises a mobile robot and a docking arrangement; and pick and drop robots (PDRs) operable to traverse along a height of storage facility for picking and dropping loads from racking structure, wherein PDRs comprise a latch arrangement and climb arrangement. Herein, MRA is operable to carry a PDR from amongst PDRs, PDR being operatively mounted on docking arrangement of MRA, wherein when MRA is at a first predefined distance from racking structure, PDR engages itself to racking structure via latch arrangement, and climb arrangement is configured to extend or retract vertically along a length of racking structure, for picking and dropping loads from racking structure upon engagement with racking structure.