Autonomous Mobile Sorting Unit with Segmented Cargo Carriers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing mobile robots in logistics and production areas are limited in their ability to unload cargo items in any desired order, requiring them to follow the sequence on the conveyor belt, which restricts flexibility and efficiency in sorting and delivery.
Innovation Solution
A mobile sorting unit with a cargo receiving unit featuring multiple cargo carriers that can be moved to various discharging positions, allowing for autonomous unloading in any order, including sideways or vertically, and equipped with a rotary conveyor and tiltable trays for flexible unloading mechanisms, enabling sorting and delivery optimization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If cargo items are transported on a conveyor belt in sequence, then the structure is simple, but the flexibility to unload in any desired order is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The conveyor belt is segmented into multiple independent cargo carriers (trays) that can be individually positioned and discharged. Each tray can be independently controlled to move to a discharging position, allowing selective unloading of specific cargo items while others remain on the conveyor belt for later delivery to different destinations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from a static sequential conveyor to a dynamic reconfigurable system where cargo carriers can be moved to different positions and discharged at different times. The conveyor belt can dynamically adjust which carriers are discharged at each position based on destination requirements, enabling flexible unloading sequences.
2Productivity
If multiple cargo items are loaded for different destinations, then delivery efficiency improves, but the inability to sort at late stages increases loss of time
Solution Approach 1:
Cargo items are pre-loaded onto the conveyor belt for multiple destinations before the actual delivery sequence begins. The system performs preliminary sorting by positioning specific cargo carriers at discharging positions based on their destinations, allowing late-stage sorting without significant time loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The conveyor belt acts as an intermediary structure that holds multiple cargo carriers with different destinations. This intermediary system allows the mobile robot to access and discharge different cargo items at different locations without returning to a central sorting point, significantly reducing sorting time.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the mobile robot follows a fixed sequence for loading and unloading, then the control system is simple, but the ability to optimize delivery routes is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The control system dynamically determines the discharge sequence of cargo carriers based on destination requirements and current location. Rather than following a fixed sequence, the system can optimize delivery routes by selecting which cargo carriers to discharge at each location, adapting to varying delivery scenarios.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from destination information and current position to dynamically adjust the discharge sequence of cargo carriers. The control system receives information about which cargo items need to be delivered and optimizes the routing and discharge timing accordingly.
Data Source
AI summary
A mobile, in particular autonomous, sorting unit, for transporting cargo to be transported in a logistics area, a production area or the like, having a cargo receiving unit which has a plurality of cargo carriers for receiving a plurality of cargo items, the cargo receiving unit being configured for autonomous discharging of the cargo items in any desired order by moving the cargo carriers to be unloaded to a discharging position. The invention further relates to a respective method for delivering cargo items to at least two different stations in a logistics area, a production area or the like with an autonomous mobile sorting unit.