US 11,893,528 B2
Logistics operation optimization apparatus and logistics operation optimization method
Kaori Nakagawa, Tokyo (JP); Yuichi Kobayashi, Tokyo (JP); Yui Kazawa, Tokyo (JP); and Tatsuhiro Sato, Tokyo (JP)
Assigned to HITACHI, LTD., Tokyo (JP)
Filed by Hitachi, Ltd., Tokyo (JP)
Filed on Feb. 15, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/671,961.
Claims priority of application No. 2021-117482 (JP), filed on Jul. 15, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2023/0027009 A1, Jan. 26, 2023
Int. Cl. G06Q 10/083 (2023.01); G06Q 10/0631 (2023.01)
CPC G06Q 10/083 (2013.01) [G06Q 10/0631 (2013.01)] 9 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A logistics operation optimization apparatus that performs optimization regarding a sequential order of articles for performing operation in regard to the articles in each operation process to sequentially distribute the articles, the logistics operation optimization apparatus comprising:
a deviation degree computing section that computes, on a basis of an overall optimum proposal list indicative of overall optimum proposals in which optimum turns of the articles over entire logistics operation are lined up and of an every-process optimum sequential order list in which optimum turns of the articles in each operation process are lined up, for each operation process, a deviation degree between the turns of the articles indicated by the overall optimum proposal list and the turns of the articles in each operation process;
a default sequential order search section that compares turns of the articles indicated by an overall optimum plan list in the past and turns of the articles indicated by an operation history to search, on a basis of a default information list table in which combinations of turns of the articles, which turns are different at a fixed ratio from each other, are stored, for any combination of turns that are defaulted with respect to the overall optimum plans indicated by the overall optimum search list in the past to obtain a number of combinations of the turns that are defaulted;
an operation time estimation section that obtains estimation operation time and an error of the estimation operation time from the overall optimum proposal indicated by the overall optimum proposal list;
an overall optimum proposal evaluation section that obtains an evaluation value of the overall optimum proposal indicated by the overall optimum proposal list according to an evaluation expression that is based on the deviation degree computed by the deviation degree calculation section between the turns of the articles indicated by the overall optimum proposal list and the turns of the articles in each operation process, and the estimation operation time obtained by the operation time estimation section; and
an overall optimum plan determination section that creates the overall optimum plan list indicative of an overall optimum plan that is determined on a basis of the evaluation value of the overall optimum proposal obtained by the overall optimum proposal evaluation section and in which optimum turns of the articles over the entire logistics operation are lined up, wherein
the evaluation expression with which the overall optimum plan determination section obtains the evaluation value of the overall optimum proposal is a weighted linear sum of the deviation degree between the turns of the articles in the overall optimum proposal list and the turns of the articles in each operation process, the number of combinations of the turns that are defaulted, and the estimation operation time, and the error of the estimation operation time, and
an overall optimum plan execution section that, in response to the determination of the overall optimum plan and creation of the overall optimum plan list, delivers a command of a handled article sequential order to a robot to perform the overall optimum plan indicated by the overall optimum plan list.