Transport Vehicle Priority Control Under Limited Vacant Capacity

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional transport vehicle systems face challenges in allocating high-priority transport instructions when there are no vacant vehicles available, leading to reduced operational rates of processing devices.

Innovation Solution

A transport vehicle system with a controller that prioritizes high-priority instructions over low-priority ones, allocates instructions based on the number of vacant vehicles, and adjusts priorities dynamically to ensure timely execution of top-priority tasks, even when resources are limited.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If a transport instruction is allocated immediately when a vacant transport vehicle exists, then the allocation speed is improved, but high-priority transport instructions cannot be allocated when the system is in a state with limited vacant vehicles

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveallocation speedVSAvoidhigh-priority instruction allocation reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts allocation behavior based on the current state of vacant transport vehicles. When the number of vacant vehicles is sufficient (first number), high-priority instructions are allocated immediately. When the number is insufficient, the system switches to a different allocation mode that preserves vacant vehicles for potentially more critical future instructions, thus adapting the allocation strategy to current system conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the allocation parameter (priority threshold) based on the number of vacant transport vehicles. The controller monitors the count of vacant vehicles and adjusts which transport instructions qualify for immediate allocation, transforming a static allocation rule into a dynamic one that responds to system state changes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Productivity

If low-priority transport instructions are allocated to vacant transport vehicles, then the utilization of transport vehicles is improved, but high-priority transport instructions may be delayed when vacant vehicles are scarce

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetransport vehicle utilizationVSAvoidhigh-priority instruction delay

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies partial action by allocating low-priority instructions only when the number of vacant vehicles exceeds a certain threshold. This prevents over-allocation that would leave insufficient vacant vehicles for high-priority instructions, while still maintaining reasonable utilization during periods of vehicle abundance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Solution Approach 2:

The controller continuously monitors the number of vacant transport vehicles and uses this feedback to adjust allocation decisions. When vacant vehicle count drops below the threshold, the system automatically stops allocating low-priority instructions, ensuring that vacant vehicles are reserved for high-priority needs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Reliability

If the system maintains a fixed number of vacant transport vehicles for high-priority instructions, then high-priority allocation reliability is improved, but the overall system flexibility and response to varying workloads is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehigh-priority instruction allocation reliabilityVSAvoidsystem flexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

Rather than maintaining a fixed rigid reservation system, the invention implements a dynamic threshold-based approach. The allocation behavior adapts to current workload conditions and vacant vehicle availability, providing both reliability for high-priority instructions and flexibility for responding to varying system states and workload demands.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS20230322486A1Transport vehicle system and method of controlling transport vehicle

Publication Date: 2023.10.12 MURATA MASCH LTD

AI summary

A transport vehicle system includes transport vehicles and a controller to allocate a transport instruction to the transport vehicles. The controller is configured or programmed to allocate a first transport instruction when the first transport instruction with a first priority occurs in a state in which a number of vacant transport vehicles is a first number, and to not allocate a second transport instruction to vacant transport vehicles when the second transport instruction with a second priority lower than the first priority occurs in a state in which the number of vacant transport vehicles is the first number.