Logistics Robot Mission Grouping for Shared-Path Traffic Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional logistics robot fleet management systems face challenges with increased traffic volume and limited supply quantity per robot, especially in areas with high robot density and intersecting paths.
Innovation Solution
A processor-implemented method and apparatus that receive call information from a manufacturing executing system, generate a call occurrence history and call grouping order, calculate target path and shortest path call counts, perform call grouping, and assign missions to logistics robots based on their information.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a single logistics robot is assigned to each production line, then the logistics supply is simplified and controlled, but the traffic volume increases in areas where the number of logistics robots increases and the logistics robots intersect
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple call requests for the same path into a single consolidated mission. The call grouping unit groups multiple calls occurring on the same path between the same start and end workstations, allowing one logistics robot to fulfill multiple calls in sequence, thereby reducing the number of robots needed and decreasing traffic volume in high-density areas.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables a single logistics robot to perform multiple functions by assigning it consolidated missions that include multiple calls. Instead of dedicating one robot per call, one robot can handle multiple calls along the same path, making the robot fleet more versatile and reducing overall traffic congestion.
2Stability of the object's composition
If conventional logistics robot fleet management systems control the logistics robots assigned to each production line to supply the same type of logistics, then the supply consistency is maintained, but the supply quantity per logistics robot is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple call requests into consolidated missions, allowing a single logistics robot to supply multiple workstations or supply larger quantities to fewer workstations. This increases the supply quantity per robot while maintaining consistency through systematic call grouping and mission consolidation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent ensures continuous operation by consolidating calls into missions that keep logistics robots busy throughout their operational cycles. By grouping calls efficiently and minimizing idle time between deliveries, the system maintains supply consistency while maximizing the supply quantity each robot can deliver.
Data Source
AI summary
A processor implemented method including receiving call information requesting one or more logistics types be supplied to one or more of a plurality of workstations, generating a call occurrence history and a call grouping order according to a respective workstation of the plurality of workstations corresponding to the call information, calculating a target path call count of a target path determined by the call grouping order, the calculating being based on checking the call occurrence history of a shared workstation of the plurality of workstations sharing the target path, calculating a shortest path call count with respect to calls that occur at paths other than the target path, performing a call grouping using the target path call count and the shortest path call count, generating a mission corresponding to a result of the call grouping, and selecting a logistics robot to perform the mission.