Piece-Picking Robot With Container Retrieval for In-Transit Fulfillment
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing grocery and convenience delivery services are inefficient, costly, and inflexible, often requiring advance reservations, minimum order quantities, and prohibiting modifications after order processing, making it difficult for consumers to impulsively purchase items.
Innovation Solution
An automated delivery vehicle equipped with a robotic system that can process and fulfill orders in real-time while en route, allowing for modifications and additions without significantly increasing delivery costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If orders are processed in a warehouse before delivery, then order fulfillment accuracy is improved, but delivery time increases due to the two-step process
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the order fulfillment process and delivery process into a single integrated operation. The robotic system picks and packs items directly in the delivery vehicle during transit, merging what were previously separate warehouse fulfillment and delivery steps into one simultaneous process, thereby reducing delivery time while maintaining accuracy through automated robotic operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically performs order fulfillment during the delivery route rather than statically completing all picking before departure. The robotic system can retrieve additional items and modify orders while the vehicle is in transit, adapting the fulfillment process to the dynamic delivery context, which reduces overall delivery time while maintaining order accuracy.
2Adaptability or versatility
If delivery services allow order modifications after processing, then customer service flexibility is improved, but operational complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The robotic system autonomously handles order modifications during transit without requiring human intervention. When additional items are requested, the robotic system automatically retrieves them from storage containers and adds them to the order, enabling flexible order changes while keeping operational complexity low through automated self-service capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically accepts and processes order modifications during the delivery route. The robotic system can retrieve additional items from storage containers at any point during transit, allowing flexible order changes without fixed processing deadlines, thereby improving adaptability while managing complexity through automated real-time adjustments.
3Speed
If a robotic system processes orders during vehicle transit, then delivery speed is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The robotic system performs multiple functions within a single integrated platform: it picks items from storage containers, packs them into order containers, navigates the vehicle interior, and handles order modifications. This multi-functionality achieves fast delivery speed while managing complexity by consolidating capabilities into one universal robotic system rather than separate specialized devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The robotic system is divided into functional modules including item retrieval mechanisms, packing mechanisms, navigation systems, and control systems. This segmentation allows each module to be optimized independently for its specific task, achieving high delivery speed through coordinated modular operations while managing overall system complexity through standardized interfaces between modules.
Data Source
AI summary
A robotic order fulfilment system for picking inventory. The system includes a piece picking robot configured to pick inventory from a plurality of containers arranged on shelving. The robot includes a base moveable relative to the shelving in a horizontal direction, a vertical post extending from the base, a platform linearly moveable along the vertical post, a suction system arranged to secure and move a select one of the containers from the shelving to expose an open top of the select one of the containers, and a picking arm configured to pick an item from the select one of the containers after the open top has been exposed. An order fulfilment method using the piece picking robot is also provided.