Mobile Robotic Picking With Human-Aware Navigation and Arm Transfer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current order-picking methods in warehouses are labor-intensive and require significant human intervention, limiting efficiency and scalability.
Innovation Solution
An autonomous mobile robotic system that can adapt its path to work alongside humans, using visual indicators and robotic arms to pick and put articles in an order fulfillment facility, allowing for flexible scaling of labor and capacity by combining autonomous robotic units with human operators.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If autonomous mobile robotic units are deployed for order picking, then labor costs are reduced and productivity increases, but the system complexity and difficulty of operating alongside human workers increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the order fulfillment facility into multiple zones with different automation levels. Some areas use fully autonomous robotic units for high-volume picking, while other areas maintain human operators for complex or variable tasks. This segmentation allows the system to achieve high productivity in automated zones without requiring complete automation throughout the entire facility, thereby managing system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The robotic units are designed with multi-functional capabilities, including autonomous navigation, obstacle detection and avoidance, human worker detection, and adaptive path planning. These universal features enable the robots to operate effectively in mixed environments with both human and autonomous workers, resolving the contradiction between productivity improvement and system complexity by creating a versatile platform that handles multiple operational scenarios.
2Adaptability or versatility
If robotic units autonomously navigate the facility, then operational flexibility improves, but the risk of collision with human workers and obstacles increases
Solution Approach 1:
The robotic units employ preliminary anti-action through proactive obstacle detection and avoidance mechanisms. The systems continuously scan the environment using sensors, predict potential collision paths, and take preventive actions by altering their trajectories before collisions can occur. This allows maintain operational flexibility while preemptively eliminating collision risks with human workers and stationary obstacles.
Solution Approach 2:
The navigation system incorporates real-time feedback from sensors that detect human workers, obstacles, and environmental conditions. This feedback loop enables the robotic units to continuously adjust their paths and speeds based on current facility conditions, maintaining operational flexibility while dynamically responding to potential hazards to prevent collisions.
3Productivity
If the system is designed for full automation, then labor costs decrease, but the initial capital investment and system complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs dynamic automation where the degree of automation adjusts based on task requirements, order volume, and facility conditions. High-volume, routine picking tasks use autonomous robotic units, while low-volume or complex tasks may be handled by human workers. This dynamic approach optimizes labor efficiency for automated tasks while avoiding the need for complete automation infrastructure, thereby reducing overall system complexity and capital investment.
Data Source
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AI summary
An order-picking method (10), carried out in an order fulfillment facility (12) using a plurality of mobile robotic units (14) used to fulfill orders placed by individuals on-line or from a catalogue or to fulfill orders placed by a retail establishment of full or split cases that are bound for individual stores of a chain of retail establishments, said method comprising: autonomously routing a plurality of mobile robotic units (14, 114, 214) including an autonomous vehicle base (17) capable of self-navigation from any starting point in fulfillment facility (12) to any utilization point without special infrastructure; and picking articles to or putting articles from said robotic units (14), wherein at least one of said autonomous mobile robotic units (114) includes a robotic arm (24) and including picking articles or putting articles with said robotic arm (24); wherein said picking articles or putting articles including picking articles to or putting articles with said robotic arm (24) from another of said autonomous mobile robotic units (14).