Double-Deep Automated Storage Vehicle for Multi-Item Retrieval
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing warehouse fulfillment systems are inefficient, prone to errors, and require significant human intervention, leading to increased task completion time, resource wastage, and inflexibility, with robots often transporting entire shelving units or single items per trip, causing bottlenecks and inefficiencies.
Innovation Solution
An automated storage and retrieval system featuring a mobile vehicle body with a first mobile conveyor, item handling mechanism, and driving wheels, capable of retrieving items from external shelves and moving them onto the conveyor, with extendable members and vertical support rails, allowing access to double-deep shelves and simultaneous item transfer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If robots transport entire shelving units of items, then items can be moved in bulk, but significant wasted movement of robots and shelving units occurs, resulting in inefficient use of space and resources
Solution Approach 1:
The shelving unit is segmented into individual item slots, allowing the robot to selectively retrieve only the specific items needed for orders rather than transporting entire shelving units. The item handling mechanism can access and retrieve items from different locations on the shelving unit during a single trip, dividing the retrieval task into discrete item-level operations.
2Measurement precision
If robots transport single items per trip, then precise item delivery is achieved, but significant robot movement and bottlenecks in space and resource utilization occur
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple item retrieval operations are merged into a single robot trip. The item handling mechanism can retrieve multiple items from different locations on the shelving unit during one trip to the picking station, combining what would otherwise be separate trips into a single consolidated operation, thereby increasing throughput while maintaining precise item delivery.
3Area of stationary object
If just-in-time transportation of shelves is used, then space utilization is improved, but downtime and increased quantities or conflicts for robots occur
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-positioning items on the shelving unit in an optimized layout that facilitates efficient retrieval. The item handling mechanism is designed to access items from multiple locations in a single trip, preparing the system in advance to handle multiple items without requiring additional trips or causing downtime.
4Adaptability or versatility
If human picking is used, then flexibility in item selection is maintained, but errors, fatigue, and increased task completion time occur
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-service through automated item retrieval and presentation. The mobile robot autonomously navigates to the shelving unit, the item handling mechanism automatically retrieves items based on order requirements, and the conveyor system automatically presents items to the picking station, eliminating human involvement in the physical picking process while maintaining flexibility through programmable control.
Data Source
AI summary
An automated sorting and packing system is described. A system may include a mobile vehicle body including a first mobile conveyor that moves with the mobile vehicle body. A system may include an item handling mechanism coupled with the mobile vehicle body and including one or more extendable members that move between a retracted position and an extended position to retrieve one or more items from one or more external shelves and move the one or more items onto the first mobile conveyor. A system may include one or more driving wheels coupled with a drive motor that cause the mobile vehicle body, mobile conveyor, and the item handling mechanism to move in an aisle.