Handling Robot Task Pairing for Fetch-and-Return Warehousing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing material handling methods in intelligent warehousing are not flexible enough, leading to low material handling efficiency, particularly for warehousing robots that handle multiple material boxes at once.
Innovation Solution
A material handling method and device that allows for flexible allocation of handling tasks to a robot, enabling it to perform material fetching and returning tasks simultaneously by optimizing the allocation of idle storage units and positions of targets based on real-time position information.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the robot adopts a 'return before fetching' strategy to handle multiple material boxes, then the material returning process is simplified, but the material handling efficiency decreases and the handling strategy lacks flexibility
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the material fetching task and material returning task into a single integrated operation. The robot determines a return position that allows it to return materials while simultaneously fetching new materials, combining two separate processes into one coordinated action that improves efficiency while maintaining simplicity.
2Device complexity
If the robot completes all returning tasks before fetching new materials, then the storage unit management is simplified, but the overall working time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by having the robot determine the return position in advance based on the current position and idle storage unit information, before actually executing the return operation. This allows the robot to plan both returning and fetching operations simultaneously, reducing overall working time while maintaining manageable storage unit allocation.
3Ease of operation
If the robot follows a fixed handling sequence, then the control logic is simplified, but the adaptability to different scenarios decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamics by making the handling strategy adaptive rather than fixed. The robot dynamically determines whether to perform returning before fetching or during fetching, based on real-time conditions such as current position, idle storage unit information, and task requirements. This dynamic adjustment maintains relatively simple control logic while significantly improving adaptability to different scenarios.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure provides a material handling method and device, a server and a handling robot. The material handling method provided by the present embodiment includes: acquiring position information and idle storage unit information of a robot; and allocating a second handling task to the robot according to the position information, the idle storage unit information and a position of a first target included in a first handling task; where one of the first handling task and the second handling task is a material fetching task, and the other is a returning task. Thus, a handling strategy can be set flexibly, and fetching materials while returning is implemented during a material handling process, the handling efficiency of the materials is improved effectively.