RFID-Guided Sorting Robots for Manual Alignment-Free Handling
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Solution Overview
Problem
The increasing number and types of commodities or packages in warehousing and logistics sorting operations lead to higher labor costs and incorrect identification due to barcode issues, affecting efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A sorting system utilizing radio frequency tags, sorting robots, and a control server to automate the sorting process, determining destinations, and delivering items to collection containers based on tag information without manual alignment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If manual hand-held barcode identification device is used, then device complexity is low, but productivity decreases and measurement precision deteriorates due to barcode wrinkles and manual alignment requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the manual mechanical barcode scanning system with an automated RFID reading system. RFID tags embedded in items are read wirelessly by RFID readers, eliminating the need for manual barcode alignment and scanning. This substitution increases productivity and measurement precision while reducing labor intensity, directly addressing the contradiction between improved sorting efficiency and acceptable system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements self-service identification where RFID tags automatically transmit their information to readers without requiring manual intervention. The system automatically identifies items, determines destinations, and triggers sorting operations without human involvement in the identification process, thereby significantly improving productivity and reducing the complexity of manual operations.
2Measurement precision
If manual barcode identification is used, then device complexity is low, but measurement precision deteriorates due to barcode wrinkles and incorrect identification
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical barcode scanning system with an automated RFID reading system. RFID tags embedded in items are read wirelessly by RFID readers, eliminating the need for manual barcode alignment and scanning. This substitution increases productivity and measurement precision while reducing labor intensity, directly addressing the contradiction between improved sorting efficiency and acceptable system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses RFID tags as digital copies of item identification information. Instead of relying on physical barcodes that can be damaged or misread, the system uses electromagnetic field-based RFID tags that provide more reliable and accurate identification. This copying approach eliminates the physical limitations of barcodes and improves measurement precision.
3Productivity
If traditional manual sorting method is used, then device complexity is low, but productivity decreases and labor cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service identification where RFID tags automatically transmit their information to readers without requiring manual intervention. The system automatically identifies items, determines destinations, and triggers sorting operations without human involvement in the identification process, thereby significantly improving productivity and reducing the complexity of manual operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the manual mechanical barcode scanning system with an automated RFID reading system. RFID tags embedded in items are read wirelessly by RFID readers, eliminating the need for manual barcode alignment and scanning. This substitution increases productivity and measurement precision while reducing labor intensity, directly addressing the contradiction between improved sorting efficiency and acceptable system complexity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system enhances efficiency and reduces labor costs by enabling unmanned sorting operations, improving delivery and feeding efficiencies while minimizing incorrect identifications.
Implementation Method 1
each item to be sorted is provided with a tag including sorting destination information of the item to be sorted; the first tag reader is configured to read tag information in the tag
Data Source
AI summary
A sorting system includes: a sorting platform, a first tag reader, a control server, at least one sorting robot, at least one feeding table and a plurality of collection containers. The sorting platform includes one or more layers; each feeding table is configured to place at least one item to be sorted; the first tag reader is configured to read and send tag information in a tag of each item to be sorted to the control server; the control server is configured to determine a sorting destination of the item to be sorted, determine a target collection container corresponding to the item to be sorted, and send a delivery instruction and a delivery path of the item to be sorted; and the sorting robot is configured to, in response to the delivery instruction, deliver the item to be sorted to the target collection container according to the delivery path.