Tile Grid Transport System for Warehouse Goods Routing
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Solution Overview
Problem
The complexity of efficiently moving and storing goods in centralized warehouses has increased due to the variety and volume of goods, making linear processing inefficient, and existing systems face challenges in communication and safety within active working areas.
Innovation Solution
A transport system comprising a grid of tile units with drive mechanisms and skid plates that allow for directional movement of payload carriers, integrated with a control system and communication connectors for efficient navigation and safety, enabling the formation of a continuous grid for efficient goods movement and storage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a linear conveyor system is used to transport goods, then the system structure is simple, but the system cannot efficiently handle the variety and volume of goods in centralized warehouses
Solution Approach 1:
The transport system is divided into multiple independent mobile robotic units that can operate autonomously. Each robot is a self-contained module with its own navigation, lifting, and transport capabilities, allowing the system to handle complex warehouse operations through coordinated simple units rather than a single complex linear conveyor
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from static conveyor tracks to dynamic mobile robots that can autonomously navigate, change direction, and adapt their paths in real-time. The robots use sensors and control systems to dynamically adjust their movement, enabling flexible routing around obstacles and optimization of transport paths based on current warehouse conditions
2Reliability
If hardwired communication is used between grid elements, then the communication is reliable, but the system complexity and installation difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces physical hardwired communication with wireless communication technology. Mobile robots and grid elements use wireless protocols (such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or dedicated wireless industrial protocols) to exchange data, eliminating the need for physical cable connections while maintaining reliable communication through error correction and protocol management
Solution Approach 2:
The communication system is designed to be universal and protocol-agnostic, allowing different robot models and grid elements to communicate through standardized wireless interfaces. This multi-functional communication architecture supports various data types (position, status, commands) and can adapt to different operational modes without requiring separate dedicated wiring for each function
3Ease of operation
If personnel enter the active grid area for maintenance, then maintenance access is improved, but safety risks increase due to moving equipment
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements periodic safety checks and automated shutdown protocols that detect when personnel are present in the grid area. Sensors continuously monitor for human presence, and when detected, the system automatically pauses or stops robot movements in the affected area, creating safe zones for maintenance personnel to work without exposure to moving equipment
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces safety intermediaries such as protective barriers, emergency stop buttons, and communication devices that mediate between personnel and moving robots. These intermediaries provide layers of protection including physical barriers that can be activated, immediate shutdown capabilities, and two-way communication systems that allow personnel to alert robots of their presence and receive status updates
Data Source
AI summary
A system 1 for transporting goods within a storage and order processing facility, comprising a plurality of tile units 2, configured so as to in use form a substantially continuous grid on the floor of the facility; a plurality of substantially flat skid plates 5 configured to locate on top of the grid, each skid plate 5 configured so that a pay load can be placed on the upper surface of a skid plate 5 for transport; the tile units 2 containing drive means 6, 7, 8 configured to move the skid plates 5 on top of the grid; a control system configured to adjust the drive means 6, 7, 8 to alter the position of the skid plates 5 on the grid.