Multilevel Case Delivery Scheduling for Sequenced Outbound Flow
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Solution Overview
Problem
In automated warehouses, the horizontal and vertical transport machinery operate independently, leading to time intervals between the end of horizontal transfer and vertical transport, resulting in inefficiencies and mismatches in the final sequence of outbound items.
Innovation Solution
A system that determines the minimum time for transporting cases to an outbound conveyor, considering the sequence of mixed cases, and employs conflict resolution between autonomously guided vehicles to optimize lift transfer efficiency, ensuring synchronized delivery of items in the predetermined sequence.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If horizontal and vertical transport machinery operate independently in parallel, then each piece of machinery can function autonomously, but time intervals and mismatches occur in the final sequence of outbound items
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements a scheduling system that continuously monitors the status of horizontal and vertical transport machinery, tracks item locations and sequences, and dynamically adjusts operations based on real-time feedback to maintain synchronized delivery and correct sequencing of outbound items
Solution Approach 2:
The scheduling system serves multiple functions simultaneously: it coordinates horizontal transport, manages vertical transport, sequences outbound items, and optimizes overall system throughput, acting as a central intelligence that integrates all independent machinery operations
2Adaptability or versatility
If time intervals are allowed between horizontal transfer and vertical transport, then buffer positions can accommodate sequencing variations, but efficiency is reduced due to waiting time
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts transport timing and sequencing based on real-time conditions, allowing flexible buffer occupancy while maintaining optimized throughput by continuously adapting the schedules of horizontal and vertical transport operations
Solution Approach 2:
The scheduling system performs preliminary planning and coordination of transport sequences, pre-positioning items in buffers at optimally timed intervals to minimize waiting while ensuring correct sequencing, thereby preparing the system in advance for efficient synchronized delivery
Data Source
AI summary
A product order fulfillment system includes: a multi-level transport system, each level thereof having a corresponding independent asynchronous level transport system; a lifting transport system with more than one independent lift axis, in a common lift cell, each of the more than one independent lift axis being configured to independently hold and transport the at least one case along a trajectory; and a controller operably coupled to the multi-level transport system and the lifting transport system; where the asynchronous trajectories of the common lift cell output an ordered sequence of mixed cases in accordance to a predetermined case out ordered sequence of mixed cases; and where the controller is configured to heuristically generate optimal trajectory solutions for the asynchronous trajectories, and assign the at least one case to at least one asynchronous level transport axis based on at least one qualitative metric characterized by the optimal trajectory solutions.