Automated Shuttle Acceleration Control for Fragile Goods Handling
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Solution Overview
Problem
The capacity of automated storage systems is limited by the time it takes for shuttles to deliver storage units, and the protection of goods from damage during transport restricts the speed at which shuttles can operate.
Innovation Solution
The system controls the acceleration and deceleration of automated shuttles within safe limits to prevent damage to goods, using a central control unit to adjust these parameters based on the type of goods being transported and track sections, ensuring safe and efficient operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If shuttles drive as fast as technically possible to increase system capacity, then productivity is improved, but goods in storage units may be damaged
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the admissible acceleration and deceleration parameters of shuttles based on the fragility characteristics of transported goods. The central control unit modifies these parameters in real-time according to the type of goods being transported, allowing shuttles to operate at higher speeds for robust goods while reducing acceleration for fragile items, thus resolving the contradiction between productivity and goods protection
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the operational parameters (acceleration and deceleration limits) of the shuttles based on the specific requirements of the transported goods. By storing fragility data for different goods types and retrieving appropriate parameter sets during operation, the system optimizes shuttle performance for each cargo type, enabling faster operation when possible while preventing damage when necessary
2Object-affected harmful factors
If admissible acceleration is reduced to protect fragile goods, then goods damage is prevented, but shuttle delivery time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system retrieves pre-stored admissible acceleration and deceleration parameters that are specifically optimized for different goods types. For fragile goods, lower acceleration parameters prevent damage while maintaining reasonable delivery times. For robust goods, higher parameters reduce delivery time. This dynamic parameter selection resolves the time-damage trade-off by matching parameters to cargo characteristics
Solution Approach 2:
The central control unit receives information about the type of goods being transported and uses this feedback to select appropriate acceleration and deceleration parameters. This closed-loop control ensures that the shuttle operates with optimal parameters for the current cargo, preventing both excessive delivery times and goods damage
Data Source
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Figure 3
AI summary
Disclosed and claimed is an automated storage system (1) comprising a storage rack (3) with a plurality of storage positions (7) for storage units (9) on multiple rack levels (5) and one or more automated shuttles (13) for transporting storage units on shuttle tracks (11). Each automated shuttle comprises at least one drive unit driving one or more sets of wheels for moving on the shuttle tracks. Each automated shuttle of the one or more automated shuttles is configured so that during operation of the shuttle an acceleration of the automated shuttle does not exceed an admissible acceleration and/or an admissible deceleration which is less than a maximum possible acceleration or deceleration of the shuttle. The automated storage system is configured so that the admissible acceleration and the admissible deceleration of each automated shuttle can be modified. Further, a method for operating an automated storage system 1 is described and claimed.