Shelf Coordinate Positioning for Code-Light Container Picking

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for positioning containers in a warehouse environment require visual identification codes at each compartment opening, leading to increased costs and reduced efficiency due to the need for extensive image information collection.

Innovation Solution

A method and apparatus that utilize a visual scanning device to identify positions such as corners of shelves, intersection points of compartment openings, and target compartment openings, reducing the need for visual identification codes on each compartment and enabling efficient determination of target object positions through a conversion relationship between coordinate systems.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If visual identification codes are arranged at each compartment opening on the shelf, then positioning accuracy of target objects is improved, but manufacturing cost and installation complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepositioning accuracyVSAvoidinstallation complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the identification function by using multiple visual identification codes positioned at key locations (corners, edges) rather than requiring one code per compartment opening. This segmentation allows the system to derive position information for all compartments through coordinate transformation, reducing the total number of codes needed while maintaining positioning accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The visual identification codes are designed to serve multiple functions: they identify both the shelf structure and the positions of multiple compartment openings simultaneously. By placing codes at strategic locations that can be used to calculate positions of multiple compartments through coordinate transformation, the system achieves universal positioning capability without requiring dedicated codes for each compartment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Measurement precision

If visual identification codes are arranged at each compartment opening on the shelf, then positioning accuracy of target objects is improved, but manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepositioning accuracyVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system creates virtual copies of position information through coordinate transformation. Instead of placing physical identification codes at every compartment opening, the patent uses mathematical transformation to generate position data for all compartments based on the coordinates of fewer physical codes, effectively copying position information computationally rather than physically.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

3Ease of manufacture

If the number of visual identification codes is reduced on the shelf, then manufacturing and installation costs decrease, but positioning efficiency may be reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanufacturing costVSAvoidpositioning efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical approach of placing physical identification codes at every compartment opening with a computational system. The visual scanning device captures images of fewer physical codes, and coordinate transformation algorithms automatically calculate the positions of all compartment openings, substituting mathematical computation for physical measurement and significantly improving positioning efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary action by establishing the coordinate transformation relationship between the visual scanning device and the shelf coordinate system in advance. Once this transformation relationship is established, the system can quickly determine the positions of all compartment openings and target objects without requiring time-consuming individual measurements, thereby improving positioning efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS20260112053A1Method and apparatus for positioning target object, device and storage medium

Publication Date: 2026.04.23 BEIJING GEEKPLUS TECH CO LTD

AI summary

A method for positioning a target object includes: obtaining image information of a position to be identified on a shelf after transporting the shelf to a workstation; calculating first position information of the position to be identified in a first coordinate system based on the image information of the position to be identified; obtaining second position information of the position to be identified in a second coordinate system; calculating a conversion relationship between the first and second coordinate systems based on the first and second position information; and obtaining third position information of the target object to be transported on the shelf in the second coordinate system, determining fourth position information of the target object to be transported relative to the container picking device based on the third position information and the conversion relationship, and picking up the target object to be transported based on the fourth position information.