Permissible Pathway Network for Warehouse Path Planning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional path planning methods are computationally expensive and inefficient, failing to provide desired results by focusing on obstacles rather than permissible pathways in managed spaces, which limits the ability to determine optimal travel paths and calculate distances accurately.
Innovation Solution
A path planning system that models a managed space as a network of nodes defining permissible pathways, allowing for the generation of efficient paths based on these pathways, incorporating heuristic algorithms and resource-specific constraints to determine the shortest path and calculate travel distances.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional obstacle-based path planning methods are used, then path avoidance capability is achieved, but computational cost increases and distance calculation capability is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the traditional approach by defining the managed space in terms of permissible pathways (where travel is allowed) rather than obstacles (where travel is prohibited). This inversion transforms the path planning problem from avoiding negative constraints to following positive constraints, reducing computational complexity while maintaining path avoidance capability and enabling distance calculation through the predefined pathway network.
2Reliability
If traditional obstacle-based path planning methods are used, then path avoidance capability is achieved, but distance calculation capability is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-defining the network of permissible pathways and nodes before path planning is performed. This preprocessing step creates a structured representation of the managed space where distance calculations can be performed efficiently by summing segment lengths along the planned path, rather than calculating distances post-hoc from obstacle coordinates.
3Productivity
If permissible pathways are defined as a network of nodes, then path planning efficiency is improved, but model complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the managed space into discrete permissible pathways represented as a network of nodes and segments. Each pathway is divided into segments with associated length measurements, creating a modular structure that improves path planning efficiency through systematic search algorithms while managing model complexity through hierarchical organization of nodes and segments.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and apparatuses enable generation of a managed space layout model defining permissible pathways for travel through the managed space. Each permissible pathway can be defined as a line segment or an edge bounded by coordinate pairs. Items and locations within the managed space are associated with permissible pathways, which association defines how the items/locations can be reached via travel through the managed space. The information can be saved as a network of nodes, which defines the intersection of the permissible pathways and includes information about the pathways. With the layout model, a path can be determined through the managed space to accomplish work in the managed space. The layout data allows a path distance to be calculated for a given work task that involves travel through the managed space.