Robot Shuttle Transfer for Faster Inventory Sorting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current robotic systems are inefficient in picking and sorting inventory with varying sizes, dimensions, shapes, weights, and stiffness, often requiring human intervention and being labor-intensive due to their inability to reliably grasp and sort diverse items.
Innovation Solution
A robotic system comprising a robot with a picking arm and a shuttle device, where the picking arm can operate in autonomous or teleoperator modes, using a machine learning grasp pose prediction algorithm to improve grasping accuracy, and a shuttle platform to efficiently transfer items between picking and sorting locations, reducing the need for human intervention and increasing throughput.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If a single robot performs the entire sorting process (recognizing, grasping, verifying, and placing items), then automation is achieved, but the process becomes time-consuming and requires long travel distances
Solution Approach 1:
The sorting system is divided into two specialized components: a robot responsible for picking and verifying items, and a shuttle responsible for transporting items to sorting locations. This segmentation allows each component to optimize its function, with the robot focusing on accurate item acquisition and the shuttle handling rapid transportation and delivery, thereby increasing overall sorting speed without sacrificing automation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system merges the capabilities of multiple robots into a coordinated robot-shuttle team. The robot provides intelligent item selection and verification, while the shuttle provides efficient transport and precise delivery to multiple sorting locations. This combination achieves the functionality of multiple robots while reducing system complexity and cost.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the sorting location is spaced a substantial distance from the picking location, then more sorting locations can be accommodated, but items may slip from the gripping mechanism during transport
Solution Approach 1:
The shuttle acts as an intermediary between the robot's gripping mechanism and the final sorting location. Items are transferred from the robot to the shuttle at a pick-up location adjacent to the robot, and the shuttle transports them to distant sorting locations. This intermediary transfer ensures reliable item retention throughout the journey, as the shuttle is specifically designed for stable transport over distance.
3Productivity
If multiple robots are used to perform picking and sorting, then throughput increases, but system complexity and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The shuttle is designed as a universal platform that can service multiple sorting locations and work with the single robot. Instead of requiring multiple specialized robots for different functions, the system uses one robot combined with a multi-functional shuttle that can deliver items to various destinations, thereby achieving high throughput with reduced system complexity.
4Adaptability or versatility
If the robot travels long distances between picking and sorting locations, then all sorting locations can be served, but the process becomes time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The transportation function is segmented from the picking function. The robot remains stationary or moves minimally to acquire items, while the shuttle handles all long-distance travel to multiple sorting locations. This segmentation eliminates the time penalty of the robot traveling long distances, as only the specialized shuttle performs the lengthy transport operations.
Data Source
AI summary
A robotic system includes a robot having a picking arm to grasp an inventory item and a shuttle. The shuttle includes a platform adapted to receive the inventory item from the picking arm of the robot. The platform is moveable between a pick-up location located substantially adjacent to the robot and an end location spaced a distance apart from the pick-up location. The system improves efficiency as transportation of the item from the pick-up location to the end location is divided between the robot and the shuttle.