Transport Route Segmentation to Prevent Pickup Port Backlog
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Solution Overview
Problem
In transport systems for semiconductor manufacturing, articles can be left at pickup ports due to route closures or vehicle congestion, leading to reduced processing apparatus utilization and efficiency.
Innovation Solution
The system employs special transport instructions to manage articles when route secures cannot be guaranteed, allowing transport vehicles to hold articles at specified points until routes are clear, thereby ensuring quick article transfer and maintaining processing apparatus utilization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a no-traveling section is set when the traveling route cannot be secured, then transport vehicle safety is improved, but article transportation is delayed and processing apparatus utilization rate deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The transport route is segmented into multiple sections, and the no-traveling section is set only for the specific section where a transport vehicle is stopped or the route is closed, rather than the entire route. This allows other sections to remain accessible for transportation
Solution Approach 2:
The controller determines in advance whether to set a no-traveling section by checking if another transport vehicle is stopped or the route is closed before issuing transport instructions, allowing preventive routing decisions to be made before the transport vehicle departs
2Reliability
If the entire traveling route is secured before assigning transport instruction, then transport route reliability is improved, but transport efficiency and article transfer speed deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of requiring the entire traveling route to be secured, the system only requires that the route from the pickup port to the specified point (before the branching or merging part) be secured. This partial route verification allows transport instructions to be issued earlier while maintaining sufficient safety
Solution Approach 2:
The controller determines in advance whether the route from the pickup port to the specified point can be secured before assigning the transport instruction, allowing transport vehicles to be dispatched earlier without compromising safety
3Reliability
If transport instruction is suspended until no-traveling section is lifted, then transport safety is improved, but article accumulation at pickup port increases and processing efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The route is divided into segments, and transport instructions are issued for the accessible segment (pickup port to specified point) even when the full route is not available. The transport vehicle travels to the specified point and waits for the no-traveling section to be lifted
Solution Approach 2:
The controller proactively determines whether a no-traveling section needs to be set based on the current state of the route, and issues transport instructions accordingly, rather than waiting passively for route conditions to change
Data Source
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AI summary
[Problem] To provide a transport system and a transport control method capable of avoiding an article from being left to remain at a pickup port. [Means to Solve Problem] The present invention comprises: a transport vehicle V; and a controller TC that controls the transport vehicle, wherein the controller TC assigns a first transport instruction to cause the transport vehicle V to pick up an article W at a pickup port PF1 and travel to a specified point P1 at which a traveling route can be secured, in a case where a traveling route from the pickup port PF1 to an unloading port PT1, and the controller TC assigns a second transport instruction to cause the transport vehicle V to travel from the specified point P1 to the unloading port PT1 and unload the article W at the unloading port PT1, in a case where a traveling route from the specified point P1 to the unloading port PT1 can be secured at the point in time at which the transport vehicle V approaches or reaches the specified point P1.