Warehouse Mapping Robot Workflow Using Pose Graph Optimization

Solution Overview

Problem

Traditional Warehouse Management Systems (WMS) require significant time, labor, and energy due to inadequate consideration of geospatial factors in warehouse operations, leading to inefficiencies such as collisions and increased costs.

Innovation Solution

A system and method involving a mapping robot equipped with sensors to collect geospatial data, processed by a Frontend N block and a Backend block to detect loop constraints and optimize pose graphs, enhancing warehouse workflow efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If traditional WMS processes are used without geospatial optimization, then implementation is simple, but time, labor, and energy consumption increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewarehouse operation efficiencyVSAvoidtime consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary geospatial mapping and analysis to pre-determine optimal pathways and storage locations before actual warehouse operations begin. This advance preparation enables robots and workers to follow pre-optimized routes, eliminating the need for real-time decision-making and reducing operational time significantly.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system creates a digital twin or virtual copy of the warehouse environment that replicates physical spaces, obstacles, and geospatial relationships. This digital model allows for simulation and optimization of workflows without disrupting actual operations, enabling efficient path planning and resource allocation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

2Productivity

If traditional WMS processes are used without geospatial optimization, then implementation is simple, but labor and material costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewarehouse operation efficiencyVSAvoidenergy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary geospatial mapping and analysis to pre-determine optimal pathways and storage locations before actual warehouse operations begin. This advance preparation enables robots and workers to follow pre-optimized routes, eliminating the need for real-time decision-making and reducing operational time significantly.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts operational parameters such as robot speed, pathway selection, and task allocation based on geospatial data and real-time conditions. By optimizing these parameters according to spatial relationships and workflow requirements, the system minimizes energy consumption while maintaining high productivity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Extent of automation

If robots are deployed without optimized geospatial mapping, then deployment is straightforward, but collisions and traffic issues occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverobot deploymentVSAvoidcollision-free operation

Core Design Contradiction:

Extent of automationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system creates a digital twin or virtual copy of the warehouse environment that replicates physical spaces, obstacles, and geospatial relationships. This digital model allows for simulation and optimization of workflows without disrupting actual operations, enabling efficient path planning and resource allocation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously monitors robot positions, pathways, and environmental conditions, using this feedback to dynamically adjust routes and prevent collisions. Real-time data from sensors and tracking systems feeds back into the optimization algorithm, enabling adaptive path planning that responds to changing conditions and maintains safe operational distances between robots.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS12479099B2System and method for mapping features of a warehouse environment having improved workflow

Publication Date: 2025.11.25 GIDEON BROTHERS D O O

AI summary

A system and method are described that provide for mapping features of a warehouse environment having improved workflow. In one example of the system/method of the present invention, a mapping robot is navigated through a warehouse environment, and sensors of the mapping robot collect geospatial data as part of a mapping mode. A Frontend N block of a map framework may be responsible for reading and processing the geospatial data from the sensors of the mapping robot, as well as various other functions. The data may be stored in a keyframe object at a keyframe database. A Backend block of the map framework may be useful for detecting loop constraints, building submaps, optimizing a pose graph using keyframe data from one or more trajectory blocks, and/or various other functions.