Wearable Inventory Assistance Device with RFID Feedback

Solution Overview

Problem

In large inventory environments, workers face challenges in quickly and accurately locating and retrieving specific items due to the sheer number of possible locations and the small size of items, often leading to mistakes in selecting the correct items even with specific directions, as existing inventory systems lack precise feedback.

Innovation Solution

A wearable device equipped with RFID communication modules that provide haptic, aural, and visual feedback to assist workers in identifying and selecting items by interfacing with RFID tags, allowing for real-time confirmation of correct or incorrect item selection and updating inventory systems accordingly.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If specific directions are provided to workers for locating items, then the precision of location identification is improved, but the time required for workers to verify and select the correct item increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelocation identification precisionVSAvoiditem verification time

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system provides immediate feedback to workers through the wearable device when they are near the correct item location. The device receives location information from the inventory system and compares it with the worker's current position, providing real-time guidance feedback that reduces verification time while maintaining high location precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces manual verification methods (workers physically checking items) with an automated electronic system. The wearable device communicates with RFID tags or barcode scanners to automatically verify item locations, substituting mechanical human verification with automated electronic detection and feedback.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Reliability

If workers manually verify items using SKU or part numbers, then item identification accuracy can be improved, but error rates increase due to redundant or similar numbers

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveitem identification accuracyVSAvoidverification time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system provides immediate feedback to workers through the wearable device when they are near the correct item location. The device receives location information from the inventory system and compares it with the worker's current position, providing real-time guidance feedback that reduces verification time while maintaining high location precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces manual verification methods (workers physically checking items) with an automated electronic system. The wearable device communicates with RFID tags or barcode scanners to automatically verify item locations, substituting mechanical human verification with automated electronic detection and feedback.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Reliability

If workers search through large areas with many items, then the probability of finding the correct item is improved, but the time and effort required increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveitem selection accuracyVSAvoiditem retrieval speed

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system provides immediate feedback to workers through the wearable device when they are near the correct item location. The device receives location information from the inventory system and compares it with the worker's current position, providing real-time guidance feedback that reduces verification time while maintaining high location precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary actions by pre-calculating and providing directional guidance to workers before they reach the item location. The wearable device continuously receives location data and provides real-time directional feedback, preparing workers in advance for the correct item selection and reducing search time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The device significantly reduces errors in item selection by providing immediate feedback, ensuring accurate retrieval of items and updating inventory levels, thereby enhancing the efficiency and accuracy of inventory management.

Implementation Method 1

The device includes a communications module suited to interface with radio frequency identification (RFID) tags that may be attached to the items to be selected

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectRFID (Radio Frequency Identification): Electromagnetic Induction

Data Source

PatentUS10318771B2Inventory assistance device and method

Publication Date: 2019.06.11 INTERMEC IP CORP

AI summary

A system comprises two or more item storage bins, each item storage bin comprising: a wireless communication tag emitting a wireless signal having data identifying the item storage bin on which the wireless communication tag is positioned, and an indicator activated by receiving a feedback signal identifying the item storage bin on which the indicator is positioned; and a personal device comprising: a wireless communicator configured to communicate with the wireless communication tags, and a controller coupled to the wireless communicator and configured to identify one of the item storage bins from the wireless signal, and in response to identifying the one item storage bin, sending the feedback signal through the wireless communicator to the indicator.