Automated Inventory Quality Control via Imaging

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Solution Overview

Problem

Inventory systems face challenges in efficiently managing and controlling inventory due to human errors such as misplaced or incorrect items, leading to reduced throughput, increased costs, and unacceptable response times.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of an automated inventory quality control system using robotics and imaging to detect discrepancies between physical and virtual inventories, ensuring correct item selection and removal by capturing images of inventory holders and analyzing them to flag any quality control issues.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If automated imaging and analysis systems are implemented, then measurement precision and reliability are improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinventory discrepancy detection accuracyVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system creates a virtual inventory representation by capturing images of the physical inventory holder and analyzing them to generate a digital model. This virtual copy is then compared against the expected inventory state to detect discrepancies, enabling precise measurement without requiring complex physical inspection mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces manual physical inspection and mechanical verification systems with automated optical imaging and computer vision analysis. The image capture device and analysis system substitute for human workers physically checking inventory, providing more precise and consistent detection while reducing operational complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Productivity

If manual inventory checking is performed, then device complexity is reduced, but productivity and response time deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinventory verification speedVSAvoidtime for inventory detection

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The imaging system can continuously capture and analyze inventory holder images without interruption to the fulfillment process. Multiple images can be captured in sequence as the holder moves through the system, enabling continuous verification that increases productivity without causing delays.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs inventory verification in advance by analyzing images before the fulfillment process completes. Discrepancies are detected proactively, allowing corrective actions to be taken before they impact order accuracy, thereby reducing overall processing time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS9415935B1Automated inventory quality control

Publication Date: 2016.08.16 AMAZON TECH INC

AI summary

An apparatus for determining discrepancies between physical inventory and virtual inventory includes a memory and a processor. The memory can store a virtual inventory associated with an inventory bin, and an image representing a physical inventory associated with the inventory bin. The processor is coupled to the memory and can determine from the image a physical inventory comprising one or more units of inventory from the inventory bin. The processor can also determine discrepancies between the determined physical inventory of the inventory bin and the virtual inventory associated with the inventory bin.