Mobile Unit Shelf Rearrangement With Frequency-Distance Scoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
In shelf conveyance systems using mobile units like AGVs, simply rearranging shelves based on usage frequency can lead to increased travel distances for the mobile units, reducing overall efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A mobile unit management device calculates a score based on conveyance frequency and distance to workstations to determine optimal rearrangement positions, considering current shelf locations and potential collisions to minimize travel distance and improve efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If shelves are rearranged based solely on use frequency, then frequently used shelves are positioned near workstations, but the travel distance for mobile units increases and efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the evaluation parameters from单一的use frequency to a composite score that includes both conveyance frequency and distance to workstation. This parameter transformation allows the system to optimize for both accessibility and efficiency simultaneously by finding positions that balance these two factors rather than prioritizing one extreme over the other
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary calculation of optimal shelf positions by computing scores for all possible positions before actual rearrangement occurs. This advance planning allows the mobile unit to execute efficient paths without making suboptimal decisions during the conveyance process itself
2Speed
If shelves are positioned near workstations to improve accessibility, then retrieval speed increases, but the distance mobile units must travel to reach these shelves increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies local quality optimization by assigning different positions to different shelves based on their specific characteristics (conveyance frequency, item type, workstation proximity). Rather than placing all shelves uniformly near workstations, each shelf receives a customized position that optimizes the specific trade-off between retrieval speed and travel distance for that particular shelf
Solution Approach 2:
The system adds the distance dimension to the optimization problem, transforming it from a one-dimensional frequency-based arrangement to a two-dimensional optimization that considers both frequency and spatial location. This dimensional expansion allows the system to find optimal positions that balance accessibility requirements with travel efficiency
Data Source
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AI summary
According to one embodiment, a mobile unit management device for a mobile unit includes a managing section. The managing section calculates a score from a conveyance frequency for a workstation of each of shelves arranged in a facility and a distance between each of the shelves and the workstation, and determines a rearrangement position of each of the shelves based on the score and a current position of each of the shelves.