Picking Robot Path Selection for Multi-Order Warehouse Efficiency
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing warehouse management systems face challenges in determining optimal picking paths for delivery robots handling multiple orders, leading to inefficient paths due to complex and changing environments, especially when considering factors like road layout, collaboration with pickers, and dynamic obstacles.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that determine candidate passage paths for a picking robot based on comprehensive factors such as road layout, road passage information, and collaboration with pickers, followed by selecting the path with the highest efficiency for the robot to move between shelves and transport items.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the picking passage path is determined based on receiving time of each picking order, then the path planning is simple, but the walking path becomes longer and picking efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the path selection criteria from simple receiving time-based ordering to a multi-parameter evaluation system that includes passage efficiency, road layout, passage information, and picker collaboration factors. This parameter transformation enables more intelligent path optimization without excessive complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces a passage efficiency determination module as an intermediary between path planning and execution. This module evaluates multiple candidate paths using comprehensive factors (road layout, passage information, picker collaboration) to select the optimal path, thereby improving efficiency without directly complicating the basic path planning structure.
2Length of moving object
If the shortest picking passage path is planned based on picking orders, then the path length is minimized, but the complex and changing warehouse environment makes it difficult to stably implement high-efficiency picking
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the path planning system dynamic by continuously evaluating passage efficiency based on real-time warehouse conditions including road layout changes, passage information, and picker collaboration status. This dynamic adaptation ensures reliable high-efficiency picking despite environmental changes, rather than relying on static shortest-path calculations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms by determining passage efficiency for each candidate path based on multiple influencing factors, then using this efficiency evaluation to select the optimal path. This feedback loop ensures that path selection adapts to changing warehouse conditions, maintaining stability and reliability in picking efficiency.
3Productivity
If multiple factors (road layout, passage information, picker collaboration) are considered in path determination, then picking efficiency is improved, but the evaluation system becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the complex evaluation system into distinct functional modules: a candidate path determination module that generates multiple path options, and a passage efficiency determination module that evaluates each candidate using multiple factors. This segmentation manages complexity by organizing the evaluation process into manageable, modular components.
Data Source
AI summary
A picking robot control method and apparatus, an electronic device, and a storage medium. The method includes: in response to receiving a plurality of picking tasks by a picking robot, determining, based on the plurality of picking tasks, at least two candidate passage paths for the picking robot to move between a plurality of shelves in a warehouse; determining, based on a passage influencing factor corresponding to each of the candidate passage paths, a path passage efficiency corresponding to the candidate passage path; and determining a picking passage path from a plurality of the candidate passage paths based on the path passage efficiency, and controlling the picking robot to move along the picking passage path to transport an item to be picked.