Intralogistics Workflow Control With WLAN Localization for Human Safety
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Solution Overview
Problem
The increasing integration of mechanical aids and electronic data processing in work processes poses significant safety risks to human participants, particularly in environments where drones and driverless transport systems are used.
Innovation Solution
A data technology system that optimally protects people by intra-logically controlling the cooperation of people and machines within a work area, utilizing a combination of driverless transport systems, robots, and advanced navigation methods, including WLAN-based position determination and orientation markers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If driverless transport systems and robots are used to increase productivity, then work efficiency is improved, but safety risks to human participants increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces safety managers as intermediary entities that mediate between driverless transport systems/robots and human participants. These safety managers continuously monitor the environment, detect potential hazards, and coordinate safe interactions, thereby enabling high productivity while mitigating safety risks through an intermediate control layer.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements continuous feedback loops where safety managers receive real-time data from sensors about the positions and states of driverless transport systems and robots, process this information, and generate control signals to prevent unsafe operations. This closed-loop feedback mechanism ensures that productivity gains do not compromise human safety.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple driverless transport systems with different control subsystems are used, then system versatility is improved, but coordination complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs universal safety managers that can interface with multiple different control subsystems through standardized communication protocols. These safety managers perform multiple functions including hazard detection, coordination, and safety monitoring across diverse driverless transport systems and robots, thereby managing coordination complexity while maintaining system versatility.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes communication parameters and data formats to accommodate different control subsystems. By implementing adaptable parameter mappings and standardized interfaces, the safety managers can coordinate diverse systems without increasing operational complexity, allowing versatility to be maintained while complexity is managed through parameter standardization.
3Productivity
If transport areas are made accessible without obstacles for people and machines, then operational efficiency is improved, but safety hazards increase
Solution Approach 1:
Safety managers act as intermediaries between free-access transport areas and human participants, continuously monitoring the environment and detecting potential hazards. This allows unobstructed access for improved operational efficiency while the safety managers provide real-time safety oversight and coordinate safe interactions, thereby mitigating safety hazards through intermediate monitoring and control.
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
This system ensures safe and efficient operation of work processes by maintaining optimal protection of human participants through precise localization and control of machines and personnel within the work area, minimizing the risk of accidents and enhancing overall operational efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
the localization of people and machines involved in the work process using the propagation times of electromagnetic waves, such as Wi-Fi
Data Source
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AI summary
Data system for organising workflows, in which the cooperation of human beings and machines is controlled intra-logistically with optimum protection for the human beings involved, having the following features: g) an intra-logistically relevant work area is divided into production or storage areas (1) that are accessible, by means of transport areas (7), to the human beings and machines involved in the work process without obstacles, wherein the transport areas (7) are completely available to data systems by means of expediently distributed radio subscribers as transmitters and receivers (6), and an intra-logistical manager system undertakes the superordinate control, h) numerous DTSs (driverless transport systems) in various configurations and manufacturer-specific control subsystems are usable, besides transport drones (9), for handling the transport tasks that arise, i) robots in various configurations and manufacturer-specific control subsystems are used, besides people (2) equipped with radios, for carrying out work that arises.