Autonomous Forklift Sensor Reuse for Intralogistics Inspection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current collision protection and navigation systems in autonomous industrial trucks are costly and inefficient, requiring frequent manual inspections due to limited accuracy and high data processing demands, leading to undetected errors and increased operational costs in automated intralogistic systems.
Innovation Solution
Repurposing existing sensors on autonomous industrial trucks, such as cameras and laser scanners, for maintenance and inspection tasks within the intralogistic system, allowing for automated monitoring and documentation of infrastructure elements, pallets, and other technical components, enabling continuous operation and error detection without reducing system performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If laser scanners are used for environmental monitoring and collision avoidance, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies multi-functionality by enabling sensors originally designed for collision avoidance and navigation to perform additional inspection tasks. The same sensors detect both obstacles for safety and technical elements like racks and load carriers for inspection purposes, eliminating the need for separate dedicated inspection sensors and reducing overall system complexity.
2Reliability
If dedicated inspection systems are implemented, then inspection reliability is improved, but productivity decreases due to system shutdowns
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables continuous inspection during normal autonomous truck operations without requiring system shutdowns. The sensors continuously monitor technical elements while the truck performs its primary logistics functions, ensuring both inspection reliability and uninterrupted productivity through simultaneous operation of inspection and logistics tasks.
3Reliability
If manual inspections are performed regularly, then error detection capability is improved, but loss of time and productivity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies self-service by enabling autonomous trucks to perform their own inspection tasks using their onboard sensors. The trucks independently detect and document the condition of technical elements during their operations, eliminating the need for external manual inspection teams and reducing inspection time while maintaining detection capability.
4Measurement precision
If specialized inspection robots are deployed, then measurement precision for inspection is improved, but device complexity and operational costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates the need for specialized inspection robots by making existing autonomous trucks multi-functional. The same vehicles that perform logistics tasks also conduct inspections using their existing sensor suites, thereby avoiding the complexity and costs associated with deploying and coordinating specialized inspection equipment.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables reliable and efficient operation of autonomous trucks by utilizing their onboard sensors for multiple tasks, including shelf inspection, inventory management, and error correction, reducing manual intervention and operational costs while maintaining system performance and safety.
Implementation Method 1
The laser light striking an obstacle is reflected back to itself, i.e., to the transmitter, or to a receiver mounted directly next to it
Implementation Method 2
An optical sensor, in particular a camera, an infrared camera, a time-of-flight camera, or a laser scanner, is advantageously used
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a method for operating at least one autonomous industrial truck (F) in an intralogistics system (I), wherein information in the vicinity of the industrial truck (F) is acquired by means of at least one sensor (C1, C2, C3) of the industrial truck (F). It is proposed that the sensor (C1, C2, C3) be used for inspecting at least one technical element (E) of the intralogistics system (I).