High-Position Robot Fork Calibration for Precise Container Return

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Solution Overview

Problem

High-position forklifts face challenges in accurately and efficiently returning storage containers to specified positions due to manual adjustments and complex warehouse environments, leading to inefficiencies and safety risks.

Innovation Solution

A high-position robot equipped with a pallet fork, image collector, and distance sensor, which adjusts and controls the position and distance of the pallet fork relative to the storage container using image and distance data for precise positioning and efficient return.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Extent of automation

If a robot is installed at a high position to automate storage container return, then labor costs are reduced and automation is improved, but the robot's own weight increases the load on the hoist and structural support requirements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveautomation of storage container returnVSAvoidrobot weight
Core Design Contradiction:
Extent of automationVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The robot system is divided into separate functional modules: a hoist for vertical movement, a robotic arm for container manipulation, and a control system. This segmentation allows the robot to be installed at high positions without requiring the entire system to bear excessive weight, as each component is independently supported or balanced.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs counterweight mechanisms to balance the robot's weight at high positions. By introducing counterbalancing forces, the system reduces the net load on support structures and enables the robot to operate at elevated locations where automation is most beneficial.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #8Anti-weight (Counterweight)

2Productivity

If the robot moves to high positions for storage container return, then automation efficiency is improved, but vibration and positioning precision deteriorate due to instability

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestorage container return efficiencyVSAvoidpositioning precision
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary calibration of the robotic arm's positioning system before actual storage container return operations. By pre-calibrating position references and establishing coordinate transformations between different coordinate systems, the robot achieves accurate positioning even at high positions where vibration may occur.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements feedback mechanisms through sensors and control systems that continuously monitor the robot's position and adjust for vibrations. This closed-loop control compensates for instability at high positions, maintaining positioning precision required for accurate storage container placement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Extent of automation

If the robot is positioned at high locations to automate return processes, then labor costs are reduced, but maintenance and emergency handling become more difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereturn process automationVSAvoidmaintenance accessibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Extent of automationVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The robotic system is designed with dynamic capabilities that allow it to move to different positions, including lower positions for maintenance. The hoist mechanism enables the robot to be lowered to ground level or intermediate positions where maintenance personnel can access and service the equipment, resolving the accessibility issue while maintaining high-position operation during normal automation tasks.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3950566B1High-position robot, method for calibrating return of storage container, and storage medium
Publication Date: 2024.03.20 BEIJING GEEKPLUS TECH CO LTD
  • EP3950566B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3950566B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3950566B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

Disclosed are a high-position robot, a method for calibrating return of a storage container, and a storage medium. The high-position robot (10) includes a pallet fork (1); an image collector (2) and a distance sensor (3) are arranged on the pallet fork; the image collector (2) is configured to collect positioning information provided on a target stock container and obtain image data that can represent a positional relationship between the pallet fork and a projection image of the positioning information on a specified plane; and the distance sensor (3) is configured to measure a distance between the pallet fork and a target stock container and obtain distance data. The method includes: after a pallet fork lifts a storage container to be placed up to a same height as a target layer of a target stock container, adjusting and controlling a positional relationship between the pallet fork and a projection image of positioning information on a specified plane; and adjusting and controlling a distance between the pallet fork and the target stock container according to distance data.