Warehouse Tote Selection and Robot Positioning for Faster Order Processing
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Solution Overview
Problem
The process of picking items from a logistics warehouse and conveying them to a packing table requires significant time and effort due to the large number of orders and items, and selecting an appropriate tote for a transport robot can be challenging, leading to inefficient item and order processing.
Innovation Solution
A method that involves a processor receiving orders from a warehouse management server, identifying item characteristics, selecting suitable totes, and determining tote positions on transport robots based on occupation and accommodable area information, with markers displayed on the robot's screen to guide workers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a worker manually checks items and selects totes for every order, then tote selection accuracy is improved, but order processing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-service by having the transport robot autonomously identify items in the order and select appropriate totes without worker intervention. The robot's processor automatically matches items to totes based on item characteristics, eliminating the time-consuming manual selection process while maintaining accuracy through systematic algorithms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the manual mechanical process of tote selection with an automated computational system. The transport robot's processor substitutes the worker's cognitive and manual actions by automatically identifying items, evaluating tote options, and making selection decisions based on pre-stored tote information and order requirements.
2Reliability
If a large tote is unconditionally placed on the transport robot, then tote availability is ensured, but item transport efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies local quality by matching tote size and characteristics to the specific requirements of each order and item. Instead of using a uniform large tote for all orders, the robot selects totes with appropriate dimensions and capacity that precisely fit the items being transported, optimizing space utilization and transport efficiency for each specific case.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements parameter changes by dynamically adjusting tote selection based on order characteristics, item dimensions, and quantity. The system varies tote parameters (size, capacity, type) according to the specific requirements of each order, transitioning from a fixed large-tote approach to a flexible, adaptive selection process that maximizes transport efficiency.
3Ease of operation
If the worker places totes on the transport robot without guidance, then operation simplicity is maintained, but loading time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by pre-calculating and determining the optimal tote positions on the transport robot before the worker arrives to load items. The processor identifies which totes should be placed and where they should be positioned, providing advance guidance that streamlines the worker's loading process and reduces on-site decision-making time.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary system (the transport robot's control processor) that mediates between the order requirements and the physical loading process. This intermediary provides structured guidance information to the worker, bridging the gap between complex optimization calculations and simple manual operations, thereby maintaining ease of operation while reducing loading time.
Data Source
AI summary
An order processing method includes receiving a plurality of orders from a warehouse management server; identifying characteristic information of a first item which is an item included in a first order, among the plurality of orders; selecting a first tote which is a tote accommodating the first item, using characteristic information of the first item; and determining a first tote position where the first tote is to be disposed on a transport robot, based on both occupation area information and accommodable area information of the transport robot, stored in the memory in advance. A first occupation area is an area occupying the transport robot when the first tote is disposed on the transport robot.