Material Transporter Navigation With Laser Pointing for Warehouse Accuracy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing material storage systems using pick-to-light/put-to-light (PTL) and simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) face challenges with increased costs and inaccurate navigation as warehouses expand, necessitating a more efficient and cost-effective navigation method.
Innovation Solution
A navigation system for material transporters that includes a monitoring device generating order and movement instructions, using a navigation assembly to detect reflected signals and calculate displacement, and a laser pointing element to accurately guide the transporter to storage locations, thereby eliminating the need for extensive system expansions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If PTL system and SLAM-based navigation are used to manage material storage systems, then staff members can quickly locate storage cabinets, but expanding the warehouse increases system costs and reduces navigation accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a camera to capture images of the warehouse environment and generates virtual view images that are displayed on a display device. Instead of expanding physical navigation infrastructure (PTL systems, SLAM sensors) throughout the warehouse, the system creates virtual copies of the environment that can be viewed and navigated through digitally. This allows warehouse expansion without proportionally expanding the navigation system's physical infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical navigation systems (PTL lights, SLAM hardware) with a vision-based system using a camera and image processing. The camera captures environmental features, and software processes these images to provide navigation guidance through virtual views displayed to the user. This substitution reduces hardware complexity and costs while maintaining or improving navigation functionality.
2Adaptability or versatility
If SLAM-based navigation is used, then staff members can navigate without physical markers, but warehouse expansion results in inaccurate guidance to storage cabinets
Solution Approach 1:
The system creates virtual view images that are digital copies of the actual warehouse environment captured by the camera. These virtual views preserve the spatial relationships and visual features of the physical environment, allowing accurate navigation guidance even as the warehouse layout changes. The virtual copy maintains precision without being constrained by physical marker placement or SLAM algorithm limitations.
3Area of stationary object
If PTL system is expanded to cover larger warehouse areas, then more storage cabinets can be managed, but the cost of system expansion increases
Solution Approach 1:
The camera-based navigation system serves multiple functions: it captures images for navigation guidance, documents warehouse layout changes, and provides virtual views for various warehouse areas. A single camera system can cover the entire warehouse area, eliminating the need to install and expand separate PTL systems in each zone. The system is universally applicable across the whole warehouse regardless of size.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution provides accurate navigation without increasing costs, allowing for flexible management of material storage systems and reducing errors in locating storage cabinets, even as warehouse configurations change.
Implementation Method 1
detecting a first reflected signal and a second reflected signal to calculate an offset
Implementation Method 2
controlling a laser pointing element to generate a laser beam pointing to a material storage location
Data Source
AI summary
A navigation system adapted for a material storage system, which comprises a monitoring device and a material transporter. The monitoring device generates an order instruction including a first coordinate and a second coordinate, and generates a movement instruction based on the first coordinate and a current coordinate of the material transporter. The material transporter receives the order instruction and the movement instruction, and the material transporter generates and sends the current displacement data to the monitoring device. The material transporter comprises a navigation assembly and a laser pointing element. The navigation assembly detects a first reflected signal and a second reflected signal when the material transporter moves based on the movement instruction and generates the current displacement data. The laser pointing element generates a laser beam based on the second coordinate when the material transporter arrives the first coordinate. This disclosure is further related to a navigation method.