Mobile Storage System Wireless Control to Prevent Multi-User Conflicts
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing powered mobile storage systems require operators to physically move between storage units to create aisles, leading to potential conflicts when multiple users need to access different aisles simultaneously.
Innovation Solution
A wireless communication link between a powered mobile storage system and a smart device allows remote control of the storage units, enabling a user to create aisles and configure system operations using a mobile app, ensuring exclusive control and preventing interference from other users.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If local control panels are used at each storage unit, then users can manually create aisles at any location, but multiple users can simultaneously control storage unit movement causing conflicts
Solution Approach 1:
A master controller acts as an intermediary between multiple local control panels and the storage unit drive motors. The master controller receives commands from any local control panel, processes them centrally, and coordinates execution to prevent conflicts. This mediator ensures that only one aisle creation operation executes at a time, resolving the contradiction between accessible control and conflict prevention.
2Ease of operation
If operators physically move between storage units to create aisles, then aisle creation is possible, but user mobility requirements increase and operational efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The control system enables users to operate storage units remotely without physically moving between them. The wireless communication system allows users to initiate aisle creation from their current location, and the system automatically executes the movement and positioning operations, making the system serve the user's intent without requiring their physical presence at the storage unit.
3Productivity
If wireless communication enables remote control from smart devices, then user convenience and operational efficiency improve, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The master controller serves multiple functions: it manages local control panel inputs, processes wireless commands from smart devices, coordinates storage unit movement, and prevents control conflicts. By consolidating these diverse functions into a single multi-functional controller, the system achieves remote operation capability without proportionally increasing overall system complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A mobile storage system including a plurality of movable storage units that can be positioned to selectively form an aisle between adjacent storage units. The mobile storage system includes a master controller in communication with a local control unit and a local control panel on each storage unit. The master controller communicates through a wireless communication path with a user device having a visual display. The visual display presents a current image of the mobile storage system and allows a user to enter commands to create aisles between adjacent storage units. When the user device is in wireless communication with the master controller, the master controller prevents operation of the storage units from the local control panels. The master controller allows a wireless communication path to be created with only a single user device at any time such that only one user device is able to operate the mobile storage system.