Rack Robot Obstacle Detection and Route Replanning
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Solution Overview
Problem
In the warehousing industry, robots used for goods transfer often collide with other robots or are hindered by goods protruding from racks, leading to operational interruptions and potential damage, due to the fixed nature of their tracks which restricts their ability to avoid obstacles dynamically.
Innovation Solution
An obstacle avoidance method for robots that involves detecting suspected obstacles using sensors or image acquisition apparatus, determining their position relative to the target, and replanning their route to avoid the obstacle by adjusting direction, speed, or changing the target position, including exchanging tasks with other robots if necessary.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If robots move along fixed tracks in rack areas, then operational reliability is improved, but adaptability to obstacles deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic route planning that allows robots to adjust their travel paths in real-time based on detected obstacles. The system transitions from static fixed tracks to dynamic adaptable routes by detecting obstacles and calculating alternative paths, enabling robots to respond flexibly to changing conditions while maintaining operational reliability through controlled adjustment mechanisms.
2Productivity
If robots follow predetermined routes, then productivity is improved, but safety deteriorates due to collision risks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a feedback mechanism where obstacle detection results are continuously fed back to the route planning module. The system detects obstacles in real-time, processes this information, and adjusts the robot's travel route accordingly. This closed-loop feedback system maintains productivity by keeping robots operational while enhancing safety through dynamic obstacle avoidance, preventing collisions that would occur with predetermined rigid routes.
3Device complexity
If robots operate autonomously without obstacle detection, then device complexity is reduced, but harmful factors increase due to collisions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary obstacle detection before robots execute their travel routes. The system proactively scans the environment for obstacles and identifies potential collision risks in advance. By detecting obstacles beforehand and pre-calculating alternative paths, the system prevents harmful collisions from occurring, reducing damage and operational interruptions while maintaining relatively simple device architecture through efficient detection and planning algorithms.
Data Source
AI summary
This application provides an obstacle avoidance method and apparatus, an electronic device, and a storage medium. The obstacle avoidance method is applicable to a robot. The robot is configured to move along a track in a rack area, and the method includes: detecting whether a suspected obstacle exists in a traveling direction, where the suspected obstacle protrudes beyond an edge of a rack; determining a relative position relationship between the suspected obstacle and a target position that the robot is required to reach along a current traveling direction when the suspected obstacle exists in the traveling direction; determining that the suspected obstacle is an obstacle when the suspected obstacle is located between a current position of the robot and the target position; and replanning a traveling route to avoid the obstacle.