Inventory Item Illumination via Image Recognition
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Solution Overview
Problem
In materials handling facilities, efficiently picking items from inventory areas where similar items are stored together is challenging due to the need for extensive examination and the lack of clear identification on packaging, leading to increased time and potential mistakes.
Innovation Solution
A laser and image-enabled system that captures images of items and illuminates their positions, using image analysis to facilitate quick identification and retrieval by displaying item images or illuminating specific positions, reducing cognitive load and improving picking efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of stationary object
If different items are stored together in a single storage location to improve space efficiency, then inventory space utilization is improved, but the time to identify and pick a particular item increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the inventory location into multiple identifiable positions and uses image capture to visually distinguish individual items within the shared storage space. Each item's position is captured and displayed separately, allowing pickers to quickly identify specific items without physically examining each item in the co-located group.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates visual copies (images) of items stored in plain packaging and displays them on a screen or device. This allows pickers to identify items through their visual representations rather than examining the actual physical items, overcoming the problem of indistinguishable packaging while maintaining space-efficient co-location.
2Strength
If items are stored in plain protective packaging to improve protection, then item protection is improved, but the ability to quickly identify items increases difficulty
Solution Approach 1:
The system captures images of items in their plain protective packaging and displays these visual copies on electronic devices or screens. This allows pickers to identify items through their visual representations without needing to physically examine or open the protective packaging, maintaining both protection and identification ease.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces an intermediary layer - the image capture and display system - between the picker and the physical item. This intermediary provides visual information about items in plain packaging, allowing identification without direct physical contact or opening of the protective packaging.
3Quantity of substance
If numerous similar items are stored together to improve inventory density, then storage density is improved, but the time to locate a specific item increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the visual field of the storage location into distinct positions, capturing images that show where each similar item is located. This segmentation allows pickers to quickly scan visual representations and identify the specific position of the needed item among many similar items without physical examination.
Solution Approach 2:
The system adds a visual dimension to item identification by capturing and displaying images of items and their positions. This transforms the identification process from a physical, tactile search through similar items to a visual search through captured images, dramatically reducing location time while maintaining high storage density.
Data Source
AI summary
An inventory item to be picked may be selected along with an inventory location (e.g., storage bin) storing a particular unit of the item among a units of heterogeneous items also stowed in the inventory location. One or more images of the inventory location may be obtained and analyzed to determine a position of the unit of the item. Instructions may be sent to direct a device to illuminate the determined position of the unit of the item, and pick instructions may be sent to the same or a different the device. A device may receive the position instructions from a control system, and illuminate the determined position of the unit of the item within the inventory location. The pick instructions may direct an agent or mobile storage bin to a particular location and direct the agent to pick the unit of the item from the illuminated position.