Shelf Queue Management for Robot Picking Zone Bottlenecks
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The robot-based goods-to-person system in logistics automation faces inefficiencies due to limited queuing zone capacity, route deadlocks, and bottlenecks in the side-turning zone, which restricts mobility and space utilization in warehouses.
Innovation Solution
A shelf management method that dynamically estimates free spaces in queuing zones, optimizes shelf transportation routes, and allows for flexible rotation operations within the system, including using arc paths and multiple rotation points to improve space utilization and reduce bottlenecks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a fixed queuing zone is used in the robot-based goods-to-person system, then the system structure is simple and easy to manage, but the number of robots that can be accommodated is limited and robots that cannot be accommodated obstruct routes of other robots
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the fixed queuing zone into a dynamic system where robots can queue both in designated station queuing zones and in passage areas. The system dynamically adjusts queuing locations based on real-time space availability, allowing robots to flexibly occupy passage areas when station queuing zones are full, thereby increasing robot accommodation capacity without complicating the overall system structure
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extends the queuing space from two-dimensional station queuing zones to three-dimensional space utilization by allowing robots to queue in passage areas adjacent to stations. This dimensional expansion effectively increases the queuing capacity without requiring additional floor space, resolving the contradiction between simple structure and high capacity
2Ease of operation
If a fixed side-turning zone is used, then the rotation operation is standardized and easy to control, but it becomes a bottleneck of efficiency when multiple mobile robots need side-turning operations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the side-turning operation into two independent phases: (1) robots queue in station queuing zones or passage areas waiting for rotation opportunity, and (2) robots enter the side-turning zone to perform rotation. This segmentation allows multiple robots to queue simultaneously without blocking each other, while the side-turning zone remains a controlled bottleneck only during the actual rotation operation, thereby maintaining ease of control while improving overall efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary queuing in station queuing zones or passage areas before robots enter the side-turning zone for rotation. This preliminary action organizes robots in advance, so when they need to enter the side-turning zone, they can do so in an orderly fashion without causing bottlenecks, thus improving rotation operation efficiency while maintaining standardized control
3Ease of operation
If an arc path is used to enter the rotation zone, then the rotation operation is smooth and continuous, but a large margin between shelves is required which is not conducive to improving overall space utilization
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the robot's movement path into two distinct parts: (1) an arc-shaped approach path that allows smooth entry into the side-turning zone, and (2) a straight-line rotation path within the side-turning zone that minimizes space requirements. This segmentation allows the system to enjoy the benefits of smooth arc entry while reducing the margin space needed during the actual rotation operation, thereby improving overall warehouse space utilization
Data Source
AI summary
A shelf management method includes predicting whether there is space in the station queue area of a station; if yes, selecting a shelf from among the shelves allocated to the station and have not yet been transported, and controlling a moving robot to transport the selected shelf; after the moving robot is engaged with the selected shelf, re-predicting whether there is space in the station queue areas of all the stations that need the selected shelf; if yes, controlling the moving robot to transport the selected shelf to the station queue area that has been predicted to have space, and when the moving robot has transported the selected shelf to the pre-set area around the station queue area that has been predicted to have space, determining whether there is newly available space in the station queue area; if yes, controlling the moving robot to enter the station queue area.