Robot-Mounted LiDAR Scanning for Pallet Object Height Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Robotic conveyor systems face inefficiencies and decreased performance in palletizing and depalletizing operations due to difficulties in accurately estimating the dimensionality of objects, leading to sub-optimal motion and delays in object transportation.
Innovation Solution
An automated industrial system equipped with a rotatable image-capturing device, such as LiDAR, mounted on a robotic arm, which generates image-capturing data to determine the height and location of objects, allowing for precise object handling and optimized motion commands.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If a robotic conveyor system uses estimated dimensionality for palletizing operations, then the system can perform basic automation, but the accuracy of object dimension measurement deteriorates leading to inefficiencies
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary scanning of objects using the image-capturing device before palletizing operations begin. This advance measurement of actual dimensions allows the robotic system to plan optimal motion paths and placement positions beforehand, eliminating the need for conservative estimates and improving both automation accuracy and efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual or mechanical estimation methods with an optical/image-based measurement system. The image-capturing device captures visual data of objects, and processing equipment automatically calculates dimensions from these images, substituting imprecise mechanical estimation with precise optical measurement to improve dimension accuracy while maintaining automation
2Device complexity
If the robotic system uses fixed motion paths for object placement, then the system structure remains simple, but the adaptability to varying object dimensions deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from static, fixed motion paths to dynamic, adaptive motion paths. The robotic arm receives real-time dimension data from the image-capturing device and automatically adjusts its motion trajectory, placement position, and orientation based on the actual measured dimensions of each object, enabling the system to adapt to dimension variations without increasing physical complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes operational parameters (motion path coordinates, placement position, gripper orientation) based on measured object dimensions. The processing equipment calculates optimal parameters from the image data and transmits adjusted commands to the robotic arm, allowing the system to adapt to varying object dimensions by dynamically modifying control parameters rather than physical structure
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
Improves the efficiency and speed of object transportation by providing accurate height data for objects, enabling optimal motion and placement on conveyor systems, thus enhancing the performance of robotic conveyor systems in material handling environments.
Implementation Method 1
An automated industrial system equipped with a rotatable image-capturing device, such as LiDAR, mounted on a robotic arm, which generates image-capturing data to determine the height and location of objects
Data Source
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AI summary
Various embodiments described herein relate to techniques for object height detection for palletizing operations and/or depalletizing operations. In this regard, an automated industrial system comprises at least a column portion, a robot arm portion, and an end effector configured to grasp an object. An image-capturing device is mounted onto the automated industrial system and is configured to rotate, based on movement of the robot arm portion, to scan the object grasped by the end effector and to generate image-capturing data associated with the object. Furthermore, a processing device is configured to determine height data for the object based on the image-capturing data. The processing device is also configured to determine location data for the object with respect to a conveyor system based on the height data.