Remotely Operated Vehicle with Passive Wheel Load Transfer

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing container handling vehicles for automated storage and retrieval systems are complex, heavy, and prone to collisions, with maintenance procedures being intricate due to their multi-component designs.

Innovation Solution

A remotely operated vehicle with a simplified design featuring a pair of driven wheels and a pair of passive wheels, where the passive wheels are located in the cavity section to transfer load to the rail system, reducing the need for additional drive motors and motion transmission mechanisms.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If additional drive motors and motion transmission mechanisms are added to enable movement in multiple directions, then the vehicle's maneuverability and functionality are improved, but the vehicle's weight and structural complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovemaneuverabilityVSAvoidvehicle weight

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The passive wheels serve multiple functions: they support the vehicle body weight, enable movement in the first horizontal direction when engaged with rails, and can be disengaged to allow movement in the second horizontal direction. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate drive mechanisms for each direction, reducing overall system complexity and weight.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The vehicle employs a dynamic wheel engagement system where the passive wheels can be selectively engaged or disengaged from the rails based on the required movement direction. This dynamic configuration allows the same physical components to serve different functional roles, providing versatility without adding permanent heavy infrastructure for each movement mode.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Adaptability or versatility

If additional drive motors and motion transmission mechanisms are added to enable movement in multiple directions, then the vehicle's maneuverability is improved, but the device complexity and maintenance requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovemaneuverabilityVSAvoidstructural complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention extracts the drive function from the wheel assembly itself, using the passive wheels' interaction with the rail system and the vehicle's motion to provide propulsion. This eliminates the need for complex drive motors and transmission mechanisms that would otherwise be required to achieve multi-directional movement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Adaptability or versatility

If the vehicle design includes multiple active drive components, then the vehicle's functionality is improved, but the kinetic energy and potential collision severity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovefunctionalityVSAvoidcollision severity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The passive wheels are designed as non-driven, simpler components that can be more easily replaced if damaged. By using passive rather than active drive components, the vehicle reduces its overall kinetic energy and potential for severe collisions, while maintaining functionality through the strategic use of passive wheel-rail interaction for propulsion.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

4Stability of the object's composition

If the passive wheels are positioned away from the center of gravity, then the load distribution and stability are improved, but the vehicle's rotational inertia changes

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveload distributionVSAvoidacceleration

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The passive wheels are strategically positioned at specific locations relative to the center of gravity to optimize local load distribution on the rail system. This localized quality adjustment ensures stable weight bearing while the overall vehicle design compensates for rotational inertia effects through appropriate mass distribution and drive force application.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS20250171231A1A remotely operated vehicle, an automated storage and retrieval system and a method of driving a remotely operated vehicle for handling a goods holder of an automated storage and retrieval system

Publication Date: 2025.05.29 AUTOSTORE TECH AS

AI summary

The invention relates to a remotely operated vehicle for handling a goods holder while operating on a two-dimensional rail system of an automated storage and retrieval system. The vehicle comprises a vehicle body and a first set of wheels enabling movement of the remotely operated vehicle in a first horizontal direction of the rail system and a second set of wheels enabling movement of the remotely operated vehicle in a second horizontal direction of the rail system. The second direction is perpendicular to the first direction. The vehicle body comprises a motor section that houses at least one drive motor and a cavity section that provides a cavity for storing a goods holder. The vehicle has a center of gravity (COG) located in the cavity section wherein the first set of wheels comprises a pair of driven wheels and a pair of passive wheels.