Dynamic Transporter Bonding With Synchronized Visual Notifications

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Solution Overview

Problem

In facilities like warehouses, the large number of workers and autonomous transporters can make it difficult for workers to locate the appropriate transporter for item transportation.

Innovation Solution

A task-based dynamic bonding system that uses a server to detect transporter allocation triggers, select transporter identifiers, and transmit joint notification parameters to both mobile devices and transporters, causing them to generate synchronized visual notifications to aid in transporter identification.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the number of workers and autonomous transporters in the facility is increased to improve productivity, then the productivity increases, but the difficulty of locating the appropriate transporter by workers increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveproductivityVSAvoiddifficulty of locating transporter

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses color-coded visual notifications displayed on both worker mobile devices and autonomous transporter displays to indicate transporter allocation status and identity. Different colors represent different allocation states, enabling workers to quickly identify the appropriate transporter among many in the facility without confusion.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #32Color changes

Solution Approach 2:

A central server acts as an intermediary between workers and autonomous transporters. The server receives location data from transporters and allocation requests from workers, then matches and notifies both parties of the allocation status through visual notifications, facilitating efficient transporter location and assignment in crowded facilities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If visual notifications are displayed on both mobile devices and transporters to improve transporter identification, then the ease of operation improves, but the use of energy increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of transporter identificationVSAvoidenergy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The visual notifications are activated periodically or on-demand based on allocation events rather than continuously. The server sends notification parameters to mobile devices and transporters only when transporter allocation status changes, reducing energy consumption while maintaining effective transporter identification during critical moments.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Data Source

PatentUS12276981B2Task-based dynamic bonding notification systems and methods

Publication Date: 2025.04.15 ZEBRA TECHNOLOGIES CORP

AI summary

A method includes: detecting a transporter allocation trigger associated with a mobile computing device disposed in a facility; in response to detecting the transporter allocation trigger, selecting a transporter identifier of an autonomous transporter disposed in the facility; selecting a joint notification parameter; causing the mobile computing device to generate a notification according to the joint notification parameter; and transmitting the joint notification parameter to the autonomous transporter, to cause the autonomous transporter to generate a visual notification corresponding to the notification.