Area Warehouse Layout for Precise Robot Trailer Parking
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Solution Overview
Problem
In multi-level surface storage facilities with autonomously driving tractors and trailers, there is a challenge in efficiently navigating and parking trailers while minimizing operational impacts due to design constraints such as support columns and varying shelf positions.
Innovation Solution
The storage method involves virtually dividing the driving surfaces into parking areas and traffic areas, using navigation markings to guide tractors, and optimizing the arrangement and size of storage areas relative to support columns to maximize space utilization and efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If navigation markings are distributed densely to enable precise position detection, then measurement precision improves, but the complexity of the driving surface increases
Solution Approach 1:
The navigation markings are segmented into multiple discrete markers distributed across the driving surface. Each marker can be independently detected and processed, allowing precise position determination through coordinate calculation from multiple discrete points rather than requiring a continuous complex pattern.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces coordinate systems as an intermediary mathematical framework to translate the spatial relationships between scattered navigation markers into meaningful position and orientation information. This mediator converts the apparent complexity of distributed markings into simple coordinate geometry calculations.
2Stability of the object's composition
If support columns are placed frequently to provide structural support, then structural stability improves, but the available parking area decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different functional qualities to different spatial zones: support columns are concentrated at boundary locations to provide structural stability, while the interior zones are kept clear to maximize parking area. This local differentiation allows each region to optimize for its primary function without compromising the other.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent resolves the space conflict by transitioning to a multi-level three-dimensional structure. Support columns are positioned at vertical boundaries between levels, allowing them to provide structural support without occupying horizontal parking space within each level. The problem is solved by adding the vertical dimension to the layout.
3Adaptability or versatility
If tractors navigate freely without predefined paths, then operational flexibility improves, but navigation complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The navigation system is designed to be dynamic rather than static. Tractors can adapt their routes in real-time based on current conditions while still using the navigation markings for position reference. The system allows flexible path selection and dynamic route recalculation, combining structured navigation infrastructure with unstructured operational freedom.
Data Source
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AI summary
The aim of the invention is to be able to optimally operate an area storage system (100), comprising navigation markings (66) on the story driving areas (50"a, b), with autonomously driving, unmanned robots (4) and vehicle combinations (4+2). For this purpose, the parking regions (56) and the traffic areas (57) must be defined in an optimized way in relation to the storage areas (56 a, b, c) and it must be possible to bypass the onboard controllers of the robots (4) also with an offset of the markings (66) between two mutually adjoining shelves (55), irrespective of the current work step and regardless of whether especially a vehicle combination is pushing operation or in pulling operation.