Dynamic Transfer Area Assignment for Autonomous Vehicle Logistics
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing transport management systems struggle to facilitate efficient transfer of tasks between transport vehicles in dynamic environments, such as warehouses, where the positions of racks and vehicles change, making it difficult to apply fixed installation-based transfer assistance systems.
Innovation Solution
A transport management apparatus that includes a receiving unit for position information, a transfer area setting unit, a transfer vehicle setting unit, and an instruction unit to dynamically decide and instruct the transfer of tasks between transport vehicles, ensuring seamless transfer of racks between vehicles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a transport vehicle carries a rack to a destination, then the stored product can be delivered, but battery rundown may occur during carrying making the delivery difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary assessment of battery capacity before task assignment. The management device calculates required battery capacity based on distance and rack weight, and only assigns tasks to vehicles with sufficient battery capacity, preventing battery rundown before it occurs
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts task allocation based on real-time battery status. When a vehicle's battery capacity changes, the management device recalculates and reassigns tasks to maintain optimal energy utilization and ensure delivery completion
2Adaptability or versatility
If transfer assistance is implemented in a dynamic environment with moving vehicles and racks, then task transfer between vehicles becomes necessary, but fixed installation-based systems cannot be applied
Solution Approach 1:
The management device serves multiple functions: it manages individual vehicle tasks, handles task transfers between vehicles, monitors battery capacity, and dynamically reassigns tasks. This multi-functional approach eliminates the need for separate fixed installation systems for each function
Solution Approach 2:
The management device acts as an intermediary between transport vehicles and the warehouse management system. It receives task information from the warehouse management system, processes battery capacity considerations, and assigns appropriate tasks to vehicles, enabling flexible task transfer without direct vehicle-to-vehicle communication
3Productivity
If task transfer between transport vehicles is enabled, then operational continuity is maintained, but the system requires dynamic position tracking and vehicle assignment
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously receives position information and battery status from transport vehicles, processes this feedback data, and dynamically adjusts task assignments. This closed-loop feedback mechanism ensures operational continuity while maintaining efficient use of position information management resources
Data Source
AI summary
A controller (1) includes: a transfer area setting unit (11) which, when transferring a transported object from a transfer source vehicle of respective transport vehicles to a transfer destination vehicle of the respective transport vehicles, decides a transfer area at a destination to which the transported object is transported by the transfer source vehicle; a transfer vehicle setting unit (12) which decides the transport vehicle that is the transfer destination vehicle on the basis of position information of the transfer area and the position information of the respective transport vehicles; and an instruction unit (14) which instructs the transfer source vehicle to carry out a task of transporting the transported object to the transfer area, and instructs the transfer destination vehicle to carry out a task of transporting the transported object from the transfer area.