Robot Controller Sequencing for Mixed-SKU Pallet Loading
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current robotic systems lack sophistication to handle complex tasks, requiring human intervention for operations involving various types of objects, and struggle with efficient handling and storage, especially in logistics systems, where mixed loading of different SKUs on pallets often necessitates operator intervention.
Innovation Solution
A controller for robotic systems that derives and stores data on operation objects and pallets, creating control sequences for loading and unloading tasks, allowing for efficient and automated manipulation of objects with different attributes, including mixed loading scenarios, using data deriving and storage units, and robot control units to optimize pallet utilization and handling properties.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If robots are used to perform automatic operations for loading and unloading objects on pallets, then productivity is improved, but the system lacks sophistication to handle complex tasks involving various types of objects, requiring human intervention
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by deriving and storing data about operation objects and pallets before the actual loading/unloading task. The robot control unit creates a control sequence in advance based on object attributes, pallet specifications, and task requirements, enabling the robot to autonomously handle complex variations without human intervention during execution
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes parameters by deriving multiple types of data including object identification information, attribute information, pallet identification information, and task information. These parameter variations enable the robot to adapt to different object types, pallet configurations, and task requirements, achieving both high productivity and versatility
2Adaptability or versatility
If the robotic system is designed to handle mixed loading of different SKUs on pallets, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases due to the need for sophisticated data management and control sequence creation
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the complex task of mixed SKU handling into distinct data components: object identification data, attribute data, pallet identification data, and task data. This segmentation is managed by separate functional units (data deriving unit, data storage unit, robot control unit), reducing overall system complexity while maintaining high adaptability
Solution Approach 2:
The controller acts as an intermediary between the robot and the complex task requirements. It receives various input data, processes them through the data deriving and storage units, and generates appropriate control sequences, thereby simplifying the interface between the robotic system and diverse loading scenarios
3Ease of operation
If the robot control unit creates control sequences based on derived data, then ease of operation is improved, but loss of time occurs during data derivation and control sequence creation before task execution
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs data derivation and control sequence creation as preliminary actions before the actual loading/unloading task begins. By preparing the control sequence in advance based on pre-derived object and pallet data, the system ensures smooth automated execution without time loss during task performance, though some time is invested in the preparation phase
Data Source
AI summary
A controller for a robotic system is provided. The controller may derive first data including information about operation objects and information about pallet before loading and/or unloading of the operation object on/from the pallet. The controller may derive a control sequence for loading and/or unloading the operation object on/from the pallet based on the first data before execution of the corresponding loading/unloading task. Based on the control sequence, the controller may instruct a robot to execute the task of loading and/or unloading the operation object on/from the pallet.