Robotic Vehicle Routing for Oversized Article Turns
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Solution Overview
Problem
Computer-controlled vehicles in industrial facilities face challenges in navigating and sorting oversized articles efficiently due to the risk of mechanical interference during turning maneuvers in grid-based systems, where simultaneous turns in adjacent grid cells can result in collisions.
Innovation Solution
A system that includes a server, computer-controlled vehicles, and a grid with a routing engine that assigns travel routes and controls turning maneuvers to prevent contact between vehicles carrying oversized articles, by ensuring that only one vehicle can turn at a time in adjacent grid cells or by delaying one vehicle's turn until the other has completed its maneuver.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If the grid size is minimized to increase the number of receiving and delivering locations, then the footprint of the sorting system is reduced, but the risk of mechanical interference during turning maneuvers increases
Solution Approach 1:
The routing engine performs preliminary analysis of the grid layout and article dimensions to identify potential collision zones before vehicles begin turning. It pre-assigns turning sequences and establishes virtual exclusion zones around vehicles executing turning maneuvers, preventing other vehicles from entering these zones simultaneously. This proactive approach eliminates collisions while maintaining minimal grid sizes.
Solution Approach 2:
The routing engine acts as an intermediary controller that coordinates turning maneuvers between adjacent vehicles. It monitors the positions and intended actions of all vehicles, and when it detects that simultaneous turns would cause interference, it mediates by delaying one vehicle's turn until the other completes its maneuver. This coordination layer enables dense grid packing without sacrificing safety.
2Productivity
If the grid size is reduced to increase productivity, then more travel paths and locations are available, but the distance vehicles must travel to complete turning maneuvers increases
Solution Approach 1:
The routing engine dynamically adjusts vehicle routes and turning sequences in real-time based on current grid conditions. When a vehicle is delayed due to a coordinated turn, the system dynamically recalculates alternative paths or timing for subsequent vehicles to minimize overall travel time. This dynamic optimization ensures that while grid size is minimized for high density, the additional turning distance does not significantly impact total productivity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If larger articles are transported on the grid, then the versatility of the system increases, but the minimum required grid size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The routing engine applies local quality control by creating article-specific virtual boundaries and turning constraints based on each article's dimensions. For oversized articles, it establishes larger exclusion zones around the carrying vehicle during turning maneuvers and assigns less congested grid paths. For smaller articles, standard turning procedures apply. This localized adaptation allows the system to handle diverse article sizes on a compact grid without requiring uniform expansion of the entire grid structure.
Data Source
AI summary
System is configured to receive article information corresponding to articles to be transported by computer-controlled vehicles, the articles comprising a first article and a second article, each having a maximum article dimension. System is also configured to assign travel routes about a grid comprising grid cells for the vehicles to travel thereon. The travel route of a first vehicle carrying the first article includes a turning maneuver at a first grid cell. System is configured to control the turning maneuver of the first vehicle in the first grid cell such that there is no contact between the first article carried on the first vehicle with a second article carried on a second vehicle present in a second grid cell that is adjacent to the first grid cell when the first vehicle is undertaking the turning maneuver.