Robot Queue Positioning for Multi-Station Warehouse Processing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Inefficient processing of robots in warehouse order fulfillment due to race conditions and complex coordination of access to common induction and packing stations, leading to reduced throughput and increased processing time.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for queuing robots by determining their priority upon entering a target zone near processing stations and assigning them to specific queue positions, allowing for efficient navigation and processing by directing them to available processing positions based on priority, thereby avoiding race conditions and optimizing workflow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If robots are allowed to freely navigate to processing stations without queuing, then individual robot speed is maintained, but race conditions occur and overall system productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by assigning robots to queue positions before they reach the processing station. The management system determines queue positions based on priority criteria (such as order urgency, robot location, or processing requirements) before the robots arrive at the target zone, preventing race conditions and ensuring smooth workflow.
Solution Approach 2:
The queue position assignment system acts as an intermediary between robot navigation and processing station access. Instead of allowing direct competition for processing positions, the system introduces a virtual queue layer that mediates access, assigning robots to specific queue positions that correspond to processing positions, thereby eliminating race conditions while maintaining efficient throughput.
2Reliability
If a queue system is implemented to prevent race conditions, then system reliability improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The management system automatically performs queue position assignment based on pre-defined priority criteria without requiring complex real-time negotiation or communication between robots. Each robot receives its queue position assignment from the central management system, which independently evaluates priority factors and makes assignments, simplifying the overall coordination mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses parameter changes in the form of priority criteria evaluation to determine queue positions. By changing the state of the system from uncoordinated navigation to coordinated queuing based on measurable parameters (such as order priority, robot location, processing requirements), the system achieves reliable race condition prevention through a manageable level of complexity.
3Productivity
If multiple processing positions are available at a station, then processing capacity increases, but coordinating robot access to specific positions becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the queue into multiple queue positions, each corresponding to a specific processing position at the station. This segmentation allows multiple robots to be queued simultaneously for different processing positions, increasing processing capacity while maintaining simple coordination rules. Each queue position is independently managed, reducing the complexity of coordinating access to multiple positions.
Solution Approach 2:
The queue position assignment system serves multiple functions simultaneously: it prevents race conditions, manages multiple processing positions, optimizes throughput, and simplifies robot navigation. By creating a universal queuing mechanism that handles all these aspects through a single coordinated system, the patent achieves high processing capacity without proportionally increasing coordination difficulty.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for queuing robots destined for one or more processing stations in an environment includes determining when each robot of a plurality of robots destined for the one or more processing stations have entered a predefined target zone proximate the one or more processing stations. The method also includes assigning each of the robots to one of a plurality of queue positions based on an assigned priority and directing each of the robots from its assigned queue position to a processing position of one of the processing stations. Each of the processing stations includes at least two processing positions for a like number of robots to occupy for processing by an operator.