SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PICKING VALIDATION

• US 20160101936A1
• Filed: 09/25/2015
• Published: 04/14/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/10/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hand Held Products Incorporated (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hand Held Products Incorporated (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Inventors: Chamberlin, James
• Granted Patent: US 10,810,715 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 1/1371 with data records
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 1/1375 the orders being assembled on a commissioning stacker-crane or truck
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 11/2522 the position of the object changing and being recorded
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/402 characterised by control arrangements for positioning, e.g. centring a tool relative to a hole in the workpiece, additional detection means to correct position G05B19/19 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31319 Use data groups as inventory control value, adapt inventory need to new data
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/10021 Stereoscopic video; Stereoscopic image sequence
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/10028 Range image; Depth image; 3D point clouds
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 5/50 using two or more images, e.g. averaging or subtraction
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/204 using stereoscopic image cameras stereoscopic photography G03B35/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/254 in combination with electromagnetic radiation sources for illuminating objects
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/282 for generating image signals corresponding to three or more geometrical viewpoints, e.g. multi-view systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/698 for achieving an enlarged field of view, e.g. panoramic image capture

Abstract

A system and a method for validating items gathered (i.e., picked) as part of a logistics process are disclosed. The picking system uses one or more sensors to sense the physical attributes of an item (e.g., weight, color, size/shape, etc.). The sensed-physical attributes are compared to expected-physical attributes stored for the item. Based on the comparison, a user may receive feedback confirming or rejecting the picked item. In some embodiments, the picking system uses the collected physical data to improve, or add to, the expected-physical attributes. The picking system may also be integrated with a powered-industrial vehicle and/or a warehouse management system to improve usability and effectiveness.

Claims

1. A method for validating a picking operation, comprising:

picking an item;

placing the picked item on a platform in view of at least one sensor communicatively coupled to a computing device;

sensing, using the at least one sensor, one or more sensed-physical attributes of the picked item;

comparing, using the computing device, the one or more sensed-physical attributes to one or more expected-physical attributes stored on the computing device; and

if the one or more sensed-physical attributes do not match the one or more expected-physical attributes, then creating a picking-error alert.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor comprises a dimensioning system.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the one or more sensed-physical attributes comprises a one-dimensional, two-dimensional, and/or three-dimensional measurement corresponding to the item'"'"'s shape/size.

4. The method according to claim 2, wherein the at least one sensor comprises a scale.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the one or more sensed-physical attributes comprises the item'"'"'s weight.

6. The method according to claim 2, wherein the at least one sensor comprises a digital camera.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the one or more sensed-physical attributes comprises the item'"'"'s visual appearance.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor comprises a dimensioning system, a scale, and a digital camera.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the one or more sensed-physical attributes comprises (i) a one-dimensional, two-dimensional, and/or three-dimensional measurement corresponding to the item'"'"'s shape/size, (ii) the item'"'"'s weight, and (iii) the item'"'"'s visual appearance.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the picking-error alert is (i) an audio alert, a visual alert, or a haptic alert or (ii) combinations thereof.

11. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

if the one or more sensed-physical attributes matches the one or more expected-physical attributes, then updating the one or more expected-physical attributes using the one or more sensed-physical attributes, and

storing the updated one or more expected-physical attributes on the computing device.

12. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

if the one or more sensed-physical attributes matches the one or more expected-physical attributes, then creating a picking-confirmation alert.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the picking-confirmation alert is (i) an audio alert, a visual alert, or a haptic alert or (ii) combinations thereof.

14. A powered-industrial vehicle, comprising:

a user interface;

at least one sensor configured to;

(i) sense physical attributes of an item placed on the powered-industrial vehicle and (ii) output physical data; and

a computing device communicatively coupled to the user interface and the at least one sensor, wherein the computing device is configured to;

(i) generate a set of sensed-physical attributes for the item based on the physical data,

(ii) retrieve a set of expected-physical attributes for the item from the computing device'"'"'s memory,

(ii) compare the set of sensed-physical attributes to the set of expected-physical attributes, and

(iii) based on the comparison, transmit an alert message to the user interface.

15. The powered-industrial vehicle according to claim 14, wherein the at least one sensor comprises a dimensioning system.

16. The powered-industrial vehicle according to claim 14, wherein the alert message comprises (i) an indication that the wrong item has been placed on the powered-industrial vehicle or (ii) an indication that the correct item has been placed on the powered-industrial vehicle.

17. A picking system, comprising:

a host computer for creating a pick list, the pick list comprising one or more items to be picked and a set of expected-physical attributes corresponding to the one or more items to be picked;

at least one sensor configured to;

(i) sense physical attributes of a picked item and (ii) output physical data; and

a mobile computer communicatively coupled to the host computer and the at least one sensor, wherein the mobile computer comprises;

a user interface,

a memory for storing the pick list, and

a processor communicatively coupled to the memory, the user interface, and the at least one sensor, wherein the processor is configured by software to;

(i) generate, based on the physical data, a set of sensed-physical attributes corresponding to the picked item,

(ii) retrieve the set of expected-physical attributes for the picked item from the memory,

(ii) compare the set of sensed-physical attributes to the set of expected-physical attributes,

(iii) based on the comparison, create an alert message, and

(iv) transmit the alert message to the user interface.

18. The picking system according to claim 17, wherein the at least one sensor comprises a dimensioning system.

19. The picking system according to claim 18, wherein the at least one sensor further comprises a scale and/or a digital camera.

20. The picking system according to claim 17, wherein the processor is further configured to update the set of expected-physical attributes using the set of sensed-physical attributes.