Lifting-Frame Readers for Blackout-Resilient Container Tracking

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing automated storage and retrieval systems face challenges in accurately tracking storage containers, particularly when manual movement occurs or during system blackouts, leading to loss of positional data and vehicle disorientation.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a system with a guiding assembly and a vehicle equipped with a reader to identify storage containers using labels, such as RFID or optical systems, which communicate with a central control system to verify and update positional data.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If automated storage and retrieval systems rely on central control systems to track storage containers, then the system can maintain organized storage and retrieval operations, but the system loses tracking capability during blackouts or manual movements

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetracking reliabilityVSAvoidpositional data loss

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces labels attached to storage containers and readers mounted on vehicles as intermediary components. These intermediaries enable direct identification and communication between vehicles and containers, allowing the system to track positional information independently of the central control system, thus maintaining tracking capability during blackouts or manual movements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables self-service tracking by equipping storage containers with labels that continuously provide identification information and vehicles with readers that automatically read and report positional data. This self-service mechanism allows the system to maintain its own tracking information without constant reliance on the central control system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Ease of operation

If the system uses manual movement of storage containers, then flexibility in handling is improved, but accurate tracking of container positions becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanual handling flexibilityVSAvoidposition tracking accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The label-reader intermediary system allows manual movement of containers while maintaining tracking accuracy. The label on each container and the reader on the vehicle create a direct identification link that works regardless of how the container is moved, enabling precise position tracking even during manual handling operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces mechanical tracking methods with an optical/electromagnetic identification system using labels and readers. This substitution eliminates the need for mechanical encoders or physical position sensors on the containers, allowing flexible manual movement while maintaining accurate digital tracking of container positions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Measurement precision

If the system equips vehicles with readers to identify storage containers, then positional data accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveposition tracking accuracyVSAvoidsystem component complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses simple, inexpensive labels attached to containers and basic readers on vehicles instead of complex, expensive tracking systems. These simple identification components provide sufficient positional data accuracy without significantly increasing device complexity, as they can be easily replaced or updated if needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses information copying through label-reader communication to track container positions. Instead of complex direct sensing mechanisms, the reader copies identification data from the label, creating a digital representation of the container's position and identity that can be processed by the control system with minimal additional hardware complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Data Source

PatentUS20250320061A1Automated storage and retrieval system comprising container identification means and methods of identifying a container or a vehicle

Publication Date: 2025.10.16 AUTOSTORE TECH AS

AI summary

A vehicle, which is for use in an automated storage and retrieval system, includes a transport mechanism and a lifting device. The transport mechanism is for transporting the vehicle along a first guiding system in a first direction and a second guiding system in a second direction. The second direction is orthogonal to the first direction. The lifting device is for lifting storage containers from storage columns arranged below the vehicle. The lifting device includes a lifting frame connectable to a storage container. The vehicle further includes at least one reader for reading at least one label of a storage container, such as to identify the storage container. The at least one reader is arranged on the lifting frame of the vehicle.