| CPC G06Q 10/0838 (2013.01) [G06Q 10/06315 (2013.01)] | 20 Claims |
|
1. A method for automatically selecting an efficient configuration for loading pallets on a vehicle, the method comprising:
receiving pallet information for a shipment, the pallet information describing pallets to be included in the shipment, each pallet being associated with one or more pallet characteristics, wherein the one or more pallet characteristics include a pallet weight and a pallet size;
receiving vehicle constraint information for the vehicle, the vehicle constraint information describing (i) dimensions of a cargo transportation area of the vehicle, and (ii) rules for loading pallets on the vehicle;
determining, by a warehouse management system, candidate configurations for loading the pallets on the vehicle, wherein each candidate configuration (i) satisfies the rules for loading pallets on the vehicle, and (ii) defines, for each pallet to be included in the shipment, a respective position and orientation of the pallet on the vehicle;
determining, by the warehouse management system, for each of the candidate configurations, a respective configuration score that represents an efficiency of the candidate configuration with respect to loading the vehicle, wherein determining the respective configuration score comprises:
for each pallet to be included in the shipment, determining a pallet score that represents an amount of time needed for loading the pallet on the vehicle by a pallet mover according to its position and orientation as defined in the candidate configuration, with a higher cost pallet score corresponding to a greater amount of time needed for loading the pallet, wherein determining the pallet score includes assigning a high cost pallet score when the pallet is to be stacked on another pallet by the pallet mover when loading the pallet, assigning an intermediate cost pallet score when the pallet is to be turned sideways on the vehicle by the pallet mover when loading the pallet, or assigning a low cost pallet score when the pallet is to be loaded straight onto the vehicle by the pallet mover when loading the pallet, and
aggregating the pallet scores to determine the respective configuration score, with a higher cost configuration score corresponding to a greater total amount of time needed for loading all pallets to be included in the shipment on the vehicle;
selecting one of the candidate configurations, by the warehouse management system, based on the respective configuration score; and
loading the vehicle according to the selected candidate configuration, wherein loading the vehicle comprises:
providing, by the warehouse management system and to an automated storage and retrieval system, instructions to retrieve each pallet to be included in the shipment, according to a loading sequence that corresponds to the selected candidate configuration;
delivering each pallet to be loaded on the vehicle, by the automated storage and retrieval system and to a staging area; and
when each pallet arrives at the staging area, (i) receiving data from a pallet identification device that indicates that the pallet has arrived at the staging area, (ii) accessing the loading sequence to confirm a next slot to be filled on the vehicle corresponds to the pallet that has arrived, and (iii) loading the pallet on the vehicle when the next slot to be filled on the vehicle corresponds to the pallet.
|