Handling Robot Task Sequencing for Fetch-and-Return Warehousing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The existing material handling strategies in intelligent warehousing, particularly for robots capable of handling multiple boxes, are inflexible and result in low efficiency due to a 'return before fetching' approach, which does not optimize the handling process.
Innovation Solution
A method and device that dynamically allocate handling tasks to robots based on position information and idle storage unit information, allowing for flexible task allocation between material fetching and returning tasks, enabling the robot to execute these tasks concurrently and optimize path planning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the robot adopts a 'return before fetching' strategy to handle multiple material boxes, then the robot can ensure proper material placement, but the material handling efficiency decreases and the handling process becomes inflexible
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic task allocation by allowing the robot to flexibly switch between returning materials and fetching new materials based on real-time conditions. The central control device dynamically adjusts the robot's task sequence, enabling it to perform fetching operations during return trips or combine multiple tasks in optimal sequences, thereby improving handling efficiency while maintaining placement accuracy through controlled execution
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables continuous productive action by allowing the robot to perform fetching operations during what would traditionally be idle return trips. The robot can fetch new materials while returning previously handled materials to storage, or accumulate multiple fetching tasks to execute in sequence, ensuring the robot is continuously engaged in productive work rather than idle transportation
2Stability of the object's composition
If the robot completes all returning tasks before fetching new materials, then the material storage organization is maintained, but the overall working time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by having the robot perform fetching operations in advance during return trips. Instead of waiting to complete all returning tasks before fetching, the robot can fetch new materials during the return journey, preparing them for future use. This preliminary fetching reduces idle time and ensures materials are ready when needed, maintaining storage organization through controlled task sequencing
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges returning tasks and fetching tasks into integrated operation sequences. The robot can combine multiple fetching tasks with returning tasks in optimized sequences, such as fetching one material while returning another, or accumulating fetching tasks to execute immediately after returning. This merging eliminates idle transition time between task types while maintaining storage organization through centralized control
3Device complexity
If the robot follows a fixed handling sequence, then the control process is simple, but the handling strategy lacks flexibility and adaptability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic task allocation by allowing the robot to flexibly switch between returning materials and fetching new materials based on real-time conditions. The central control device dynamically adjusts the robot's task sequence, enabling it to perform fetching operations during return trips or combine multiple tasks in optimal sequences, thereby improving handling efficiency while maintaining placement accuracy through controlled execution
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates feedback mechanisms where the robot reports its position, current task status, and storage unit information to the central control device. The control device uses this feedback to dynamically adjust task allocation, optimizing the robot's workflow based on real-time conditions. This feedback loop enables flexible adaptation while maintaining simple local robot control logic
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~7
AI summary
The present disclosure provides a material handling method and device, a server and a handling robot. The material handling method provided by the present embodiment includes: acquiring position information and idle storage unit information of a robot; and allocating a second handling task to the robot according to the position information, the idle storage unit information and a position of a first target included in a first handling task; where one of the first handling task and the second handling task is a material fetching task, and the other is a returning task. Thus, a handling strategy can be set flexibly, and fetching materials while returning is implemented during a material handling process, the handling efficiency of the materials is improved effectively.