Weight-Based Item Detection on Warehouse Transporters

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Solution Overview

Problem

In facilities like warehouses, errors in retrieving or placing items on autonomous transporters can cause delays and increase costs, and manual verification is costly and time-consuming.

Innovation Solution

A transporter system equipped with a weight sensing system and a processor that measures item weight, identifies an item identifier based on the weight, and determines if the item complies with an expected item by comparing the identifier and weight to predefined data.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If manual verification by workers is used to ensure correct items are deposited onto transporters, then item placement accuracy is improved, but labor costs and time consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveitem placement accuracyVSAvoidverification time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables self-verification through automated weight sensing and processing. The weight sensing system automatically detects items deposited on the transporter, compares weights against the item list, and verifies correctness without human intervention. This self-service mechanism resolves the contradiction by maintaining high accuracy while eliminating manual verification time and labor costs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical manual verification process with an automated electronic system consisting of weight sensors, processors, and item lists. This substitution eliminates the need for workers to physically verify each item, thereby maintaining reliability while dramatically reducing time loss and labor requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Productivity

If no verification system is used, then operational speed is improved, but error rate in item placement increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperational speedVSAvoiditem placement accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements continuous feedback by automatically comparing detected item weights against the expected item list. When an item is deposited, the weight sensing system immediately detects it, the processor compares the weight, and the system provides feedback on whether the item is correct or not. This feedback mechanism maintains high reliability without slowing down operational speed, as the verification happens automatically in real-time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The weight sensing system acts as an intermediary between the item deposition action and the verification process. Instead of direct manual verification that slows operations, the intermediary automated system continuously monitors weights and compares them against the item list, enabling fast operations while maintaining accuracy through automated mediation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Loss of time

If automated weight-based detection is implemented, then verification time is reduced, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveverification timeVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The weight sensing system serves multiple functions: it detects item deposition, measures item weight, compares weight against the item list, and determines verification status. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate verification devices and procedures, thereby reducing verification time while keeping the added complexity manageable through a unified system approach.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 system reduces errors and costs by automating the verification process, ensuring correct items are deposited on transporters efficiently, thereby minimizing delays and increasing operational efficiency.

Implementation Method 1

a weight sensing system associated with the shelf, the weight sensing system configured to measure an item weight for an item received on the shelf

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGravitation: Gravitation

Data Source

PatentUS12209900B2Weight-based item detection

Publication Date: 2025.01.28 SKILD-FETCH LLC

AI summary

An example transporter includes: a chassis with a locomotive assembly; a shelf supported on the chassis to receives items; a weight sensing system associated with the shelf, the weight sensing system configured to measure an item weight for an item received on the shelf; a processor interconnected with the weight sensing system, the processor configured to: obtain, from the weight sensing system, the item weight; identify an item identifier for the item based on the item weight; and determine, based on the item identifier, whether the item complies with an expected item to be received at the transporter.