Material Flow Pattern Language for Repeatable AMR Routing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional material flow automation systems require significant time and resources to design bespoke solutions for each indoor facility, making them inefficient and non-repeatable, and struggle to abstract integration between industrial controllers and autonomous mobile robots (AMRs).

Innovation Solution

A method and system that utilize a pattern language comprising core material flow elements like pick, drop, location, and route, with a variable parameter indicating known or unknown status, to determine composable material flow logic patterns, enabling dynamic route selection and repeatable patterns of movement for AMRs in indoor environments.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If bespoke material flow automation solutions are designed for each indoor facility, then the system can be customized to fit specific requirements, but the design time and resources increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecustomization to fit specific requirementsVSAvoiddesign time

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The material flow automation system is segmented into reusable pattern templates (e.g., pick patterns, drop patterns, route patterns) that can be independently designed and then combined. This allows the system to be customized for different facilities by selecting and composing appropriate patterns rather than designing everything from scratch, thereby reducing design time while maintaining adaptability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Pre-designed material flow patterns are copied and reused across different facilities. Instead of creating unique solutions for each location, the system leverages proven patterns that can be instantiated multiple times with local parameter adjustments, significantly reducing redundant design effort while preserving customization through parameter variation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

2Adaptability or versatility

If bespoke material flow automation solutions are designed for each indoor facility, then specific requirements are met, but the solutions become non-repeatable and resource-intensive

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespecific requirements fulfillmentVSAvoidimplementation efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The pattern templates are designed to be universal and multi-functional, capable of serving multiple different material flow scenarios. A single pick pattern template, for example, can be applied to various picking locations and configurations by adjusting parameters, making the system both adaptable to specific requirements and efficient to implement across different facilities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

Material flow patterns are pre-designed and validated before deployment. The system performs preliminary configuration by selecting appropriate patterns and setting parameters based on facility-specific requirements, rather than designing and testing everything during implementation. This preliminary preparation significantly improves implementation efficiency while maintaining the ability to meet specific requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Adaptability or versatility

If integration between industrial controllers and autonomous mobile robots is customized for each facility, then specific control requirements are met, but the integration complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontrol requirements fulfillmentVSAvoidintegration complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The pattern language system acts as an intermediary layer between industrial controllers and autonomous mobile robots. Instead of creating direct, custom integrations for each facility, the patterns serve as standardized interfaces that translate controller commands into robot actions. This intermediary layer simplifies integration complexity while maintaining the ability to fulfill specific control requirements through pattern selection and parameter configuration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS20240182283A1Systems and methods for material flow automation

Publication Date: 2024.06.06 SEEGRID CORP

AI summary

A system and method are provided for a material flow automation process. In some embodiments, the system and/or method comprise: receiving a first input including a plurality of core material flow elements; receiving a second input including a variable parameter that includes a status of each of the core material flow elements; applying the parameter to the plurality of core material flow elements; determining a plurality of composable material flow logic patterns from the application of the variable parameter to the plurality of core material flow elements; and applying the composable material flow logic patterns for managing an automation of movement of a vehicle.