Robotic Palletizer Visual Confirmation for Product Placement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Robotic palletization systems lack an effective human-machine interface, making it difficult for operators to confirm the correct placement of products, leading to potential damage or equipment issues due to manual intervention in adjusting product counts and arrangements.
Innovation Solution
An integrated software and hardware platform with a graphical user interface that animates the palletization process, providing a virtual depiction of product placement and overlaying a video feed with augmented reality to ensure accurate configuration, allowing operators to plan and monitor pallet configurations efficiently.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the control panel only displays a number for product count, then the interface is simple, but the operator cannot visually confirm correct product placement
Solution Approach 1:
The system creates a virtual copy of the palletizer and products that mirrors the physical system in real-time. This virtual model provides visual confirmation of product placement without adding physical complexity to the actual palletizing equipment. The virtual representation allows operators to see exactly where products should be placed and verify correct positioning.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from a one-dimensional numerical display to a two-dimensional visual interface showing the actual pallet layout. By adding the spatial dimension to the interface, operators can visually verify product placement accuracy rather than just seeing a count number, significantly improving measurement precision for placement confirmation.
2Ease of operation
If manual intervention is used to adjust product counts and arrangements, then flexibility is achieved, but errors and equipment damage can occur
Solution Approach 1:
The virtual model provides real-time feedback to operators about product placement status, showing exactly which products are correctly positioned and which need adjustment. This feedback mechanism guides manual intervention more effectively, reducing errors while maintaining the flexibility of manual adjustment when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The system allows operators to plan product configurations in advance using the virtual model before executing the palletization. By preparing the product arrangement digitally first, operators can verify the configuration is correct before physical manipulation, preventing errors and equipment damage.
3Measurement precision
If the interface provides detailed product placement information, then operator accuracy improves, but the interface becomes less intuitive
Solution Approach 1:
The virtual model serves multiple functions simultaneously: it displays product placement information, provides visual guidance for operators, allows configuration planning, and enables real-time monitoring. By consolidating these functions into a single intuitive visual interface, the system improves accuracy without sacrificing ease of operation.
Data Source
AI summary
A control system and method for a robotic palletizer. The control system and method include or are implemented by a home screen displaying a plurality of application icons. The applications each provide a quick access to control features and methods. The control system includes methods and components for planning and/or monitoring a product pallet configuration by the palletizer. Animation and/or other virtual depiction of the palletization is displayed through a graphical user interface for the palletizer. The animation and/or other virtual depiction can illustrate the conveyor palletization before or during the palletization and/or provide an augmented confirmation overlaying a video feed of a palletization of a plurality of products.