Ground-Level Delivery Vehicle for ASRS Column Congestion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing automated storage and retrieval systems face congestion around delivery columns due to inefficient handling of storage containers, leading to operational inefficiencies and reduced delivery capacity, and require costly infrastructure expansions.
Innovation Solution
A remotely operated delivery vehicle with rolling devices and a power source, capable of moving along a dedicated delivery rail system, receives storage containers from delivery ports and transports them to a second location for handling, reducing congestion and increasing delivery capacity without additional infrastructure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If traditional container handling vehicles operate on the rail system above the storage grid, then storage containers can be transported and stacked, but congestion occurs around delivery columns reducing delivery capacity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a new spatial dimension by placing the delivery vehicle on the ground level rather than on the elevated rail system. The delivery rail system operates at ground level, creating a separate delivery pathway that does not interfere with the storage operations above. This dimensional separation eliminates congestion at delivery columns while maintaining efficient container handling.
2Productivity
If more delivery columns are added to increase delivery capacity, then more containers can be handled simultaneously, but infrastructure costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The ground-level delivery vehicle serves multiple delivery columns sequentially rather than requiring dedicated infrastructure for each column. The single delivery vehicle can service any delivery column in the system by traveling along the delivery rail network, making the delivery capacity scalable without proportional infrastructure investment. This multi-functional approach allows the system to handle increased volume by optimizing vehicle utilization rather than expanding physical infrastructure.
3Ease of operation
If container handling vehicles wait at delivery columns to drop off containers, then delivery operations can be completed, but operational efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The delivery function is extracted from the storage rail system and placed on the ground level. This separation allows delivery vehicles to operate independently without being constrained by the storage grid's operational rhythm. Delivery vehicles can pick up containers from delivery columns and transport them to secondary locations immediately, eliminating the waiting time that occurs when vehicles must return to or wait at delivery columns.
4Productivity
If dedicated delivery rail system is implemented, then delivery capacity increases without additional infrastructure, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The delivery rail system is merged with the existing storage grid infrastructure by utilizing the same framework structure and upright members. The delivery rails are integrated into the vertical columns that already support the storage grid, creating a unified structure that serves both storage and delivery functions. This merging approach increases delivery capacity while minimizing additional infrastructure requirements.
Data Source
AI summary
A remotely operated delivery vehicle transports a storage container between a location directly below an automated storage and retrieval grid configured to store a plurality of stacks of storage containers, and a second location for handling of the storage container by at least one of a robotic operator and a human operator. The remotely operated delivery vehicle may include a rolling devices configured to move the remotely operated delivery vehicle in a horizontal plane along tracks of a delivery rail system. Additionally, rolling device motors are provided for driving the rolling devices. A power source provides propulsion power to the rolling device motors. A container carrier receives the storage container from above and onto or at least partly into the container carrier so that contents of the storage container are accessible by the at least one of the robotic operator and the human operator.