Robotic Item Identification Through Motion-Guided Scanning
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Kitting and singulation processes are labor-intensive due to mobility restrictions and the difficulty in programming robots to handle items of varying sizes, shapes, and fragilities, and the design of end effectors is challenging, limiting robotic arm mobility and efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A robotic system with a kitting shelf system and robotic arms that utilize machine-readable information and sensors to autonomously pick and place items, adjusting paths and orientations to ensure effective scanning and sorting, with human intervention when necessary.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If traditional robots are used for kitting and singulation, then automation is achieved, but mobility is restricted and programming complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The robotic arm is designed with dynamic mobility, allowing it to move freely within the bin rather than being constrained to fixed paths. The arm can dynamically adjust its position and orientation to reach items of various sizes and shapes, resolving the contradiction between automation and mobility by making the automated system adaptable and flexible in its movements.
Solution Approach 2:
The robotic system is designed with universal end effectors that can handle multiple types of items (different sizes, shapes, fragilities) with a single device. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for specialized programming for each item type, reducing programming complexity while maintaining high automation levels.
2Extent of automation
If traditional robots are used for kitting and singulation, then automation is achieved, but programming complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The robotic system incorporates self-learning capabilities where the robot autonomously identifies items, determines their characteristics, and adjusts its manipulation strategy without human intervention. This self-service approach eliminates complex programming requirements by allowing the robot to adapt to different items automatically, resolving the contradiction between automation and programming complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces traditional mechanical control and programming with vision-based identification and sensor-guided manipulation. The robotic arm uses visual feedback and sensor data to automatically determine picking strategies, substituting complex programming logic with intuitive sensor-driven decision-making.
3Manufacturing precision
If end effectors are designed for specific item types, then handling precision is improved, but robotic arm mobility is impeded
Solution Approach 1:
The end effector is designed as a universal gripper that can accommodate items of various sizes and shapes through adjustable fingers or adaptive gripping surfaces. This universal design maintains handling precision across different item types while allowing the robotic arm to reach into confined spaces without being constrained by specialized mechanical structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The end effector incorporates dynamic adjustment capabilities, allowing it to adapt its gripping configuration in real-time based on the item being handled. This dynamic adaptability enables precise handling of diverse items while maintaining a compact, mobile robotic arm structure that can access difficult-to-reach locations.
Data Source
AI summary
A robotic structure having a robotic arm is autonomously operated to pick an item using an end effector of the robotic arm along a predetermined path from a source location to a destination location. A number of identifiers for the item are known in advance. The picked item is moved by the end effector in a manner that improves a likelihood that at least one identifier on the picked item is obtained by one or more sensors. A number of obtained identifiers associated with the picked item is compared to a number of expected identifiers. The robotic structure is autonomously operated to place the item at the destination location based at least in part on the comparison.