Automated Storage Workload Balancing via Section-Based Allocation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional automated storage systems face workload imbalances as load flows can suddenly concentrate on one storage, exceeding its capacity, particularly due to time-based factors.
Innovation Solution
An automated storage system with a management device that identifies unfilled subsections across multiple storages and directs loads to balance the workload by selecting destinations based on unfilled sections, ensuring even distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If loads are stored in automated storages without section-based balancing, then storage capacity is utilized, but workload concentration occurs on specific storages exceeding allowable capacity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments loads into sections based on their characteristics (such as time of day, product type, or destination) and distributes these segmented loads across different automated storages. The management device divides the total load into multiple sections and assigns each section to different storages, preventing any single storage from receiving all loads and thus avoiding workload concentration that would exceed allowable capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of load distribution by introducing section-based allocation rules. Instead of storing all loads in available storages without differentiation, the system modifies the distribution parameters by creating sections and assigning loads to storages based on section characteristics, thereby balancing the workload and ensuring capacity compliance.
2Reliability
If section-based load distribution is implemented, then workload is balanced across storages, but system complexity increases due to additional management requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The management device automatically performs section identification, workload calculation, and storage assignment without manual intervention. The system self-manages the complex section-based distribution by automatically determining which loads belong to which sections and assigning them to appropriate storages, thereby achieving workload balance while minimizing the operational complexity burden on users.
Solution Approach 2:
The management device continuously monitors the number of loads in each section and adjusts assignments accordingly. By feedback-based control, the system tracks workload distribution in real-time and modifies load assignments to maintain balance, reducing the need for complex manual management while ensuring reliable workload distribution.
Data Source
AI summary
A management device includes: a section obtainer that obtains a section to which a load to be carried belongs; a unit obtainer that obtains a unit of handling which refers to a total number of loads to be collectively handled per unit, which belong to a same section; an unfilled subsection determiner that determines an unfilled subsection in which a total number of loads belonging to a same section in each of the automated storages is neither the unit of handling nor a multiple of the unit of handling; and a storage selector that, when there is an unfilled subsection corresponding to the section obtained by the section obtainer, selects, as a destination of the load, one of the automated storages which has the corresponding unfilled subsection.