Heterogeneous Logistics Robot Traffic Coordination in Shared Plant Routes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Heterogeneous logistics robots from different manufacturers operating in industrial sites face communication barriers, leading to traffic zones, collisions, and supply disruptions due to overlapping routes, increasing costs and congestion.
Innovation Solution
A centralized integrated control system that monitors and controls the operational states of heterogeneous logistics robots, performing traffic control by stopping or decelerating robots in traffic areas and dispatching them based on priority conditions, and regenerating detour routes to avoid obstacles and congestion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If heterogeneous logistics robots from different manufacturers are operated simultaneously, then transportation flexibility and coverage are improved, but communication barriers cause traffic zones and collisions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a standardized communication interface and centralized control system that acts as an intermediary between heterogeneous robots from different manufacturers. This mediator translates various manufacturer protocols into a unified language, enabling seamless communication and coordination, thereby preventing traffic zones and collisions while maintaining the ability to operate diverse robot types
Solution Approach 2:
The control system is designed with universal compatibility to manage multiple types of logistics robots from different manufacturers through a single unified platform. This multi-functional approach allows the system to adapt to various robot models and protocols without requiring separate control systems, thus maintaining transportation flexibility while ensuring reliable collision prevention
2Reliability
If the number of logistics robots is increased to ensure smooth parts supply, then supply reliability is improved, but congestion and traffic problems worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The centralized control system performs preliminary routing and scheduling of logistics robots before they enter traffic zones. By pre-planning paths and coordinating robot movements in advance, the system can handle higher robot densities without congestion, thus maintaining parts supply reliability while preventing productivity loss from traffic jams
Solution Approach 2:
The control system dynamically adjusts robot routes and speeds in real-time based on current traffic conditions and robot locations. This dynamic optimization allows the system to efficiently manage increased robot numbers by continuously adapting to changing conditions, preventing congestion while ensuring reliable parts supply
3Device complexity
If separate local systems are used for each manufacturer's logistics robots, then system complexity is reduced, but traffic control and collision prevention become impossible
Solution Approach 1:
The control architecture is segmented into modular components: manufacturer-specific interface layers that handle individual robot protocols, and a centralized coordination layer that manages overall traffic control. This segmentation allows the system to maintain simplicity at the robot level while achieving comprehensive traffic control through the coordinating layer, thus resolving the contradiction between low complexity and high reliability
Data Source
AI summary
A heterogeneous logistics robot integrated operation system and a method thereof are disclosed. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the heterogeneous logistics robot integrated operation system comprises: a first logistics robot configured to transport logistics in a production plant and a second logistics robot configured to be a different model from the first logistics robot; a first local control system configured to control an operational state of the first logistics robot and a second local control system configured to control an operational state of the second logistics robot; an integrated control system configured to collect location information of the first logistics robot and the second logistics robot and monitor whether the first logistics robot and the second logistics robot are simultaneously located within a preset traffic area based on the location information; wherein, when the first logistics robot and the second logistics robot are simultaneously located within the traffic area, at least one of the integrated control system and the local control system is configured to perform traffic control by stopping or decelerating the logistics robots and then sequentially operating according to a predetermined priority condition.