Robot Sorting Communication Using Channel Allocation and Path Sync
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Solution Overview
Problem
As the density of wirelessly controlled machines in shared spaces like warehouses increases, bandwidth limitations lead to interference between machines using the same wireless channels, causing reliability issues in wireless signal reception.
Innovation Solution
Implementing techniques such as channel allocation within the same frequency band, reducing bandwidth usage by allowing multiple machines to share channels, and using synchronization messages to prevent collisions between robots, along with predefined paths and collision avoidance algorithms, to mitigate interference and enhance machine density without increasing floor space.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If machines are spaced closer together to reduce floor space, then machine density increases, but wireless signal interference increases
Solution Approach 1:
The wireless communication bandwidth is segmented into multiple channels within the same frequency band. Each machine is assigned specific channel(s) to use, allowing multiple machines to operate simultaneously without interference. This segmentation enables higher machine density while maintaining reliable wireless communication.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of spacing machines further apart in physical space to avoid interference, the solution moves to another dimension - the frequency/channel dimension. By allocating different channels to different machines, the system allows machines to be placed closer together in physical space while preventing interference through channel differentiation.
2Reliability
If different wavelengths are used for wireless signals to different machines to avoid interference, then signal reliability improves, but bandwidth consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple machines share the same frequency band and communicate using different channels within that band. This universal approach allows the same frequency resource to serve multiple machines simultaneously, reducing overall bandwidth consumption while maintaining signal reliability through channel allocation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines multiple channel allocations within a single frequency band, allowing machines to share the same spectral resource. By merging channel management within a unified frequency band rather than using separate bands, the system reduces total bandwidth consumption while preventing interference through proper channel assignment.
3Productivity
If the same wavelengths are reused for different machines to conserve bandwidth, then bandwidth efficiency improves, but signal interference increases
Solution Approach 1:
The frequency band is segmented into multiple channels, allowing the same frequency resources to be reused across different channels for different machines. This segmentation enables bandwidth-efficient operation while preventing interference through channel isolation.
Solution Approach 2:
Channel allocation acts as an intermediary mechanism that enables same-wavelength reuse for different machines while preventing interference. The channel assignment system mediates between bandwidth efficiency goals and interference prevention, allowing resource reuse without harmful interactions.
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments herein describe a controller for a machine that wirelessly transmits a destination address to a robot which is tasked with transporting an item to the destination corresponding to the received address. Using the address, the robot can select a predefined path stored in its memory for that address. Because multiple robots can move items in the machine at the same time, the robots may collide if their predefined paths intersect. The machine can use a variety of different techniques to prevent collisions between the robots as the robots deliver items to different locations along their predefined paths.