Stock Management Robot Arm Counting and Repositioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current robots are unable to effectively count and manage stock quantities on shelves, especially in large-scale retail environments where products are arranged in a line, and cannot move products to the front of shelves for customer convenience and sales efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A stock management robot equipped with a driving unit, image acquisition unit, and a robot arm with a pressure sensor and linear actuator, which autonomously moves and counts products by extending between the shelf and products, pulling them towards the main body, and rotates to accommodate different product arrangements, allowing for accurate counting and repositioning of products.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a robot uses image acquisition to count products on shelves, then stock quantity can be counted, but it cannot accurately count products arranged in a line where images cannot be acquired from the outside
Solution Approach 1:
The robot arm extends in a third dimension (depth into the shelf) to directly contact and pull products from the back toward the front, enabling counting of products that are invisible from external camera views. This dimensional extension allows the system to access products arranged in a line that would otherwise be uncountable.
Solution Approach 2:
The robot arm acts as an intermediary between the camera system and the products. By physically contacting products and pulling them forward, the arm enables the camera to capture images of products that would otherwise remain hidden, thus mediating the counting process for line arrangements.
2Quantity of substance
If products are arranged in a line on the shelf, then space is utilized efficiently, but the robot cannot acquire images of the inside of the shelf to count products
Solution Approach 1:
The robot arm extends into the shelf depth dimension to reach back products and pull them forward, creating a visible front position where cameras can capture images. This dimensional movement resolves the visibility issue caused by line arrangements.
Solution Approach 2:
The robot arm performs a preliminary action of pulling products forward before the camera captures images. This preliminary movement repositions products from hidden back positions to visible front positions, enabling subsequent image acquisition and counting.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the robot arm extends far from the main body to reach inside the shelf, then it can access products, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The robot arm is divided into multiple segments or joints that can extend and retract independently. This segmentation allows the arm to reach deep into shelves when needed while maintaining a compact form when retracted, managing complexity through modular design.
Solution Approach 2:
The robot arm transitions from a static structure to a dynamic one that can change its length and position based on operational needs. The arm extends only when products need to be accessed and retracts when not needed, reducing overall structural complexity while maintaining reach capability.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables accurate counting of products on shelves, even when they are arranged in a line, and moves products to the front of shelves, enhancing customer convenience and sales efficiency by automating stock management and inventory tracking.
Implementation Method 1
a pressure sensor provided at the robot arm, and counting the quantity of products arranged on the shelf based on the operation of the robot arm
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed are a robot and a method of controlling the same, wherein a robot arm is moved until a pressure sensor provided at the robot arm senses a predetermined pressure, and the quantity of products arranged on a shelf is counted based on the operation of the robot arm.