Robot Personnel Routing Using Real-Time Task Recommendations
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Solution Overview
Problem
Inefficient human operator utilization and congestion arise in warehouse environments where robots and humans work together due to lack of direction, leading to increased dwell time and reduced efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A robot-assisted personnel routing system that includes autonomous robots providing task recommendations to human operators based on efficiency factors, such as dwell time, proximity, and congestion, using interactive graphics on a display to guide operators to the most efficient next task.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If human operators work autonomously without direction in a shared navigational space with robots, then operators have freedom of movement, but operator utilization efficiency decreases and congestion increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements real-time feedback by continuously monitoring robot status information (dwell time, location, task completion) and providing dynamic recommendations to operators through the user interface. This feedback loop enables operators to adjust their movements and task selection based on current system state, resolving the contradiction between operational freedom and efficiency by guiding operators toward high-priority robots without restricting their autonomy.
Solution Approach 2:
Operators serve themselves by independently selecting and navigating to robots based on system recommendations, rather than being assigned tasks centrally. The system provides the information needed for operators to make informed decisions autonomously, improving utilization efficiency while maintaining operator independence and freedom of movement.
2Device complexity
If human operators wait for robots or guess directions to find tasks, then operators maintain simple behavior, but time is wasted and efficiency reduces
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-calculating and presenting recommended robots and tasks to operators before operators need to make decisions. The system monitors robot status in real-time and proactively provides guidance on which robots need assistance, eliminating the need for operators to wait or guess, thereby reducing idle time without significantly increasing operational complexity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple operators pursue the same robot without coordination, then operators independently select tasks, but time is wasted traveling to the same robot and reconciling conflicts
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides real-time feedback on operator assignments and robot status to all operators through the user interface. When an operator is assigned to or selects a robot, this information is immediately visible to other operators, allowing them to adjust their choices and avoid pursuing the same robot. This feedback mechanism maintains operator independence while preventing conflicts and wasted travel time.
4Extent of automation
If robots operate without personnel routing assistance, then robots maintain autonomous operation, but dwell time increases and efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system acts as an intermediary between autonomous robots and human operators, translating robot needs into operator recommendations and coordinating task allocation. Robots maintain their autonomy in navigating and executing tasks, while the intermediary system optimizes the human-robot collaboration by directing operators to robots with highest dwell times or most urgent tasks, thereby improving overall efficiency without reducing robot autonomy.
Data Source
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AI summary
Systems and methods for robot assisted personnel routing including a plurality of autonomous robots operating within a navigational space, each robot including a processor and a memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the autonomous robot to detect completion of a task operation by a human operator, receive status information corresponding to at least one other robot, the status information including at least one of a location or a wait time associated with the other robot, determine, from the status information, at least one next task recommendation for directing the human operator to a next robot for a next task operation, and render, on a display of the robot, the at least one next task recommendation for viewing by the human operator, the next task recommendation including a location of the next robot corresponding to the next task.