Lifted Container Floor for Robotic Picking Beyond Arm Reach
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing robotic systems face inefficiencies in monitoring and maintaining container fullness levels, leading to reduced robot uptime and increased frequency of container fill/switching operations, which affects the consistency and speed of object picking in pick-and-place applications.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a container with a lifting mechanism and sensors, controlled by a controller, that adjusts the container floor to maintain a consistent object level within the graspable zone, allowing robots to pick objects more efficiently and reducing the need for frequent container refilling and switching.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If the container working depth extends beyond the robotic arm workspace, then the container can hold more objects and reduce refilling frequency, but the robot cannot access objects at the full depth of the container
Solution Approach 1:
The container floor is made movable through a lifting mechanism that can dynamically adjust the floor position. This allows the container to transition between a deep configuration (for storing more objects) and a shallow configuration (for enabling robot access), resolving the contradiction between container capacity and object accessibility.
2Productivity
If the container floor is raised to maintain object level within workspace, then robot picking efficiency is maintained, but the lifting mechanism and control system add complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses sensors to automatically detect when objects fall below the optimal picking zone and triggers the lifting mechanism to raise the floor accordingly. This self-service approach maintains picking efficiency without requiring constant manual intervention, justifying the added complexity through automation.
Solution Approach 2:
A control system with sensors provides feedback about object positions and container fullness levels, automatically adjusting the floor position to maintain optimal picking conditions. This closed-loop feedback mechanism ensures consistent robot efficiency while managing system complexity through intelligent control.
3Speed
If frequent container fill and switching operations are performed, then the robot can maintain consistent picking speed, but robot uptime is reduced due to operational interruptions
Solution Approach 1:
The dynamic floor adjustment capability allows the container to adapt its depth, enabling it to hold more objects while maintaining optimal picking conditions. This reduces the frequency of refilling operations and extends robot uptime between interruptions.
Solution Approach 2:
The container is designed with extended working depth to pre-load more objects, and the system proactively monitors object levels to trigger floor adjustments before complete depletion occurs. This preliminary action approach minimizes operational interruptions and maintains higher uptime.
4Device complexity
If a fixed container depth is used, then the system structure is simpler, but the robot must frequently interrupt picking to refill containers
Solution Approach 1:
The lifting mechanism transforms the fixed container structure into a dynamic system where the floor can be raised or lowered. This maintains relative structural simplicity while adding the critical functionality of adjustable depth, thereby reducing refilling frequency and improving productivity without excessive complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
The system can include: a container 110, a set of sensors 120, and a controller 130. The system can optionally include a robot 140. However, the system 100 can additionally or alternatively include any other suitable set of components. The system functions to monitor and/or maintain a fullness level of a container. The system can additionally or alternatively function to enable robotic picking out of the container (e.g., in a pick-and-place setting). The system can additionally function to maintain candidate objects within reach of the robot's end effector to increase robot uptime while minimizing the extent of the robot's required motion (e.g., in the z-axis).