Mobile Drive Unit Rotating Inventory Holder During Translation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Inventory systems face inefficiencies in resource utilization, leading to low throughput, long response times, and high costs due to the need for significant infrastructure changes to accommodate fluctuations in capacity or functionality.

Innovation Solution

A mobile inventory system with mobile drive units that can selectively rotate inventory holders while moving, allowing for efficient orientation and presentation of inventory items, reducing the need for pre-designated rotation areas and enhancing operational flexibility.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a mobile drive unit stops and docks with an inventory holder to rotate it, then the inventory holder can be properly oriented, but the system experiences increased response time and reduced throughput due to stoppages

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinventory holder orientationVSAvoidresponse time

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The mobile drive unit rotates the inventory holder continuously during translation without stopping, eliminating idle time between docking and orientation. The rotation and movement occur simultaneously as a single continuous operation, maximizing throughput and minimizing response time while ensuring proper inventory holder orientation at the destination.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

2Productivity

If the mobile drive unit rotates the inventory holder during movement, then operational efficiency is improved and path planning is simplified, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperational efficiencyVSAvoidmobile drive unit complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the rotation function and translation function into a single integrated mobile drive unit operation. The drive unit simultaneously performs both movements without requiring separate rotation areas or additional equipment, simplifying the overall system architecture while maintaining high operational efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Ease of operation

If pre-designated rotation areas are established in the workspace, then inventory holders can be rotated, but the workspace area required increases and path planning becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinventory holder rotationVSAvoidworkspace area

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the rotation function from dedicated rotation areas and integrates it directly onto the mobile drive unit. This eliminates the need for separate rotation zones in the workspace, freeing up space for other operations while simplifying path planning since the drive unit can rotate anywhere along its translation path.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentEP2849968B1System and method for maneuvering a mobile drive unit

Publication Date: 2023.03.01 AMAZON TECH INC

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AI summary

A mobile drive unit is provided for transporting an inventory holder. The mobile drive unit is operable to dock with the inventory holder, move the inventory holder in a first translational direction, and while docked with the inventory holder, selectively rotate the inventory holder while continuing to move in the first translational direction.