Tile Reservation Routing for Heterogeneous Warehouse Vehicles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing logistics systems face inefficiencies due to the reliance on tile-based movement paths, which can lead to increased collision and deadlock risks, especially with heterogeneous vehicle fleets, limiting system efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A central control server determines movement paths independently of predefined tiles, utilizing a library of path segments and considering vehicle-specific characteristics to optimize paths and prevent collisions, allowing for greater freedom in path selection and reduced deadlock risks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If tile-based movement paths are used to prevent collisions, then collision prevention is improved, but system efficiency and productivity deteriorate due to increased deadlock risks and limited path flexibility
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the tile-based path into multiple waypoints along the same tile coordinates, allowing vehicles to follow different trajectories within the same tile. This segmentation enables path diversity while maintaining the collision prevention benefits of tile-based routing, thereby improving system efficiency without sacrificing reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts vehicle paths by introducing alternative routes through waypoints within tiles, rather than following fixed deterministic paths. This dynamic path selection allows the system to adapt to changing conditions and avoid deadlocks, improving productivity while maintaining collision prevention through continuous monitoring and path recalculation
2Reliability
If tile-based movement paths are used to manage vehicle flow, then collision prevention is improved, but path flexibility and adaptability deteriorate due to rigid grid structure
Solution Approach 1:
By dividing each tile into multiple waypoints, the system creates flexible path segments within the rigid tile structure. This allows vehicles to navigate through the same tile via different waypoint sequences, providing path adaptability while maintaining the collision prevention framework of the underlying tile-based system
Solution Approach 2:
Waypoints serve as intermediary elements between the rigid tile structure and the need for flexible paths. These intermediate points allow vehicles to deviate from deterministic tile-to-tile routing, enabling adaptive path selection for heterogeneous fleets while the tile system continues to provide collision prevention boundaries
3Reliability
If deterministic paths are assigned to vehicles, then collision prevention is improved, but system efficiency deteriorates due to increased deadlock situations with heterogeneous fleets
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from static deterministic paths to dynamic adaptive routing using waypoints. Vehicles can be assigned different waypoint sequences based on real-time system state, vehicle characteristics, and traffic conditions. This dynamic approach prevents deadlocks by allowing flexible path adjustment while maintaining collision prevention through centralized control and continuous monitoring
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the path representation parameters from fixed tile sequences to flexible waypoint coordinates within tiles. This parameter change allows the system to optimize paths for heterogeneous vehicles by adjusting waypoint selection and sequencing, improving system efficiency while the tile-based framework maintains collision prevention through reserved tile mechanisms
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
The invention provides a method for implementing a system for transporting products as well as a system of this kind per se. The system comprises among other things - a plurality of vehicles, wherein each vehicle is configured to move over a floor within a movement area and is configured to carry at least one product to be transported; - a central control server configured for controlling the vehicles, wherein the central control server comprises a digital representation of the movement area, said representation comprising a plurality of contiguous tiles. The method comprises among other things the steps of: - independently of the tiles, determining a movement path for the vehicle in accordance with the digital representation, - determining which contiguous tiles will be occupied by the respective vehicle during movement by the vehicle along the movement path, - receiving or generating, by the central control server, a request for execution of a next step by the vehicle to reserve at least one successive tile in the movement path determined for the vehicle, - at least on condition that it has been determined by the control server that the at least one successive tile is available, reserving the at least one successive tile for the vehicle and then movement of the vehicle along the movement path determined for the vehicle so that the at least one successive tile is occupied.