Robot Object Handling for Uniform Conveyor Flow Distribution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing robot systems handling objects on a conveyance path face inefficiencies, particularly with fluctuating flows, leading to uneven workload distribution and increased overflow risks due to the current redundant handling strategies.
Innovation Solution
A computer-implemented method that determines a value for each object based on the uniformity of flow distribution by calculating distances and variances, selecting objects to handle that optimize uniformity, and controlling robots to prioritize these objects, thereby reducing overflow and enhancing handling rates across the system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the second kind of strategy (all objects assigned to all robots) is used to ensure 100% redundant flow handling, then reliability is improved, but productivity deteriorates due to increased overflow and uneven workload distribution
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the selection parameter from simple downstream priority to a calculated value based on flow uniformity. By calculating a value for each object that reflects how its removal affects flow uniformity, the system selects objects that optimize overall flow distribution, thereby improving productivity while maintaining reliability through intelligent selection rather than brute-force redundancy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback by continuously monitoring object positions on the conveyance path and calculating the impact of handling each object on flow uniformity. This feedback mechanism allows the robot to adapt its selection in real-time, choosing objects that will result in the most uniform outgoing flow, thus improving both productivity and reliability dynamically.
2Productivity
If a fixed percentage of objects are assigned to each robot (first kind of strategy), then workload distribution is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to lack of redundant handling
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the object assignment dynamic rather than fixed. Instead of assigning a fixed percentage of objects to each robot, the system dynamically selects objects based on real-time position data and flow uniformity calculations. This dynamic approach allows any robot to handle any object within its reach, providing both balanced workload distribution and redundant handling capability, thus resolving the contradiction between productivity and reliability.
Data Source
AI summary
A computer implemented method and a system including at least one industrial robot arranged with a tool, and a conveyance path transferring a plurality of objects within a working area of the at least one robot. The computer implemented method includes obtaining position data indicating a position for each of the plurality of objects and applying a first strategy to the at least one robot. The first strategy includes: determining a value for each object within a certain area of the at least one robot, wherein the determination is based on the position data, and the value indicates a uniformity measure of the flow distribution in the direction of the conveyance path for the remaining objects within the certain area if the object, for which the value is determined for, was excluded from the conveyance path; determining a selected object within the working area of the at least one robot based on the determined values; and controlling the at least one robot to handle the selected object.