Manual Intervention Shuttle for Track-Based Warehouse Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing automated warehouse systems pose challenges for human intervention due to the lack of solid floors in storage lanes, making it difficult and dangerous for humans to reach hindrances, and automated shuttles cannot be used for human transport due to safety restrictions.
Innovation Solution
An intervention shuttle designed for manual operation, equipped with extendable arms and safety features to ensure safe human movement within the warehouse, allowing access to areas where automated shuttles are down or obstructed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If automated shuttles are used for transporting goods in storage lanes without solid floors, then productivity is improved, but safety for human intervention deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The intervention shuttle separates human transport function from automated goods transport by using a dedicated platform with solid flooring, while automated shuttles continue operating on tracks without solid floors. This segmentation allows both functions to operate safely in their respective optimized environments.
Solution Approach 2:
The intervention shuttle acts as an intermediary vehicle that bridges the gap between automated shuttle operations and human intervention needs. It provides a safe platform for humans to reach obstruction locations without requiring automated shuttles to be modified for human transport.
2Ease of operation
If humans manually reach obstruction locations in storage lanes, then intervention capability is improved, but safety deteriorates due to lack of solid floors and working at heights
Solution Approach 1:
The intervention shuttle extracts the human operator from the hazardous environment of working at heights on tracks without solid floors. By providing a dedicated platform with solid flooring and safety features, it removes the operator from direct exposure to fall risks while maintaining access capability to obstruction locations.
Solution Approach 2:
The intervention shuttle incorporates beforehand safety measures including solid flooring, handrails, and fall protection systems before human operators need to intervene. These protective features are built into the platform design to prevent accidents before they can occur during intervention operations.
3Reliability
If automated shuttles are moved to servicing areas when broken, then system reliability is improved, but intervention capability deteriorates when shuttles cannot be moved
Solution Approach 1:
The intervention shuttle serves as a mediator that can transport human operators to locations where broken or immobile automated shuttles are stranded. This allows maintenance personnel to reach obstruction points even when automated shuttles cannot move themselves to servicing areas.
4Reliability
If safety measures are implemented for human transport, then safety is improved, but device complexity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The intervention shuttle is designed as a multi-functional platform that combines human transport, obstruction access, and maintenance support capabilities in a single vehicle. This universality reduces the need for multiple specialized systems while maintaining comprehensive safety features.
Data Source
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Figure 3a~3b
AI summary
An intervention shuttle for human intervention in an automated warehouse, the warehouse including at least one storage lane along a first direction and at least one transit lane along a second direction transverse to the first direction, wherein the intervention shuttle is configured to be driven manually on a first track extending along the at least one storage lane and on a second track extending along the at least one transit lane, wherein the intervention shuttle includes a first set of at least four wheels configured to drive on the first track and a second set of at least four wheels configured to drive on the second track.