Systems and methods for flexible conveyance in an assembly-line or manufacturing process are disclosed. A fleet of self-driving vehicles and a fleet-management system can be used to convey workpieces through a sequence of workstations at which operations are performed in order to produce a finished assembly. An assembly can be transported to a first workstation using a self-driving vehicle, where an operation is performed on the assembly. Subsequently, the assembly can be transported to a second workstation using the self-driving vehicle. The operation can be performed on the assembly while it is being conveyed by the self-driving vehicle.

Provided is a management system for managing storage and retrieval of items. The management system includes a transfer robot that includes a drive mechanism and a sensor, the drive mechanism being configured to move a shelf along a transfer route to a region where any one of operations of carrying in an item, carrying out the item, and transferring the item between shelves is enabled to be performed, and place the shelf at a predetermined position, the sensor being configured to detect a position of the transfer robot in a space where the transfer robot is allowed to be moved, a device configured to perform at least either the operation or assistance in the operation, and a first controller configured to generate control data for controlling the device and output the control data to the device, the control data being generated on the basis of an error between a position of the shelf transferred by the transfer robot and a target position on the transfer route, the error being calculated by using the position of the transfer robot detected by the sensor.

An automation server accesses a task for a robotic device. The automation server generates motor control commands for the robotic device to complete the task. The automation server transmits, via a network and in a format defined by an Application Program Interface (API), the motor control commands from the automation server to a fleet manager associated with the robotic device, the motor control commands for forwarding from the fleet manager to the robotic device. The automation server receives, from one or more sensors attached to the robotic device and via the network, robotic device sensor data. The automation server receives, from multiple remote sensors and via the network, remote sensor data. The automation server adjusts the generated motor control commands to complete the task based on the robotic device sensor data and the remote sensor data.

A system may include a vehicle for delivering items and a moveable track that cooperates with the vehicle. The moveable track may cooperate with a storage system having storage locations for storing items. The vehicle may drive into the moveable track and lift the track using a vertical drive mechanism. The vehicle may include a horizontal drive system operable to drive the vehicle horizontally along the ground to carry the moveable track to a position adjacent the storage location. The vehicle may operate the vertical drive system to drop the moveable track adjacent the storage system. Additionally, the vehicle may operate the vertical drive to drive up the moveable track to an elevated position adjacent one of the storage locations in the storage system. The vehicle may include a transfer mechanism for transferring items between the vehicle and the storage location while the vehicle is in the elevated position.

Systems and methods for flexible conveyance in an assembly-line or manufacturing process are disclosed. A fleet of self-driving vehicles and a fleet-management system can be used to convey workpieces through a sequence of workstations at which operations are performed in order to produce a finished assembly. An assembly can be transported to a first workstation using a self-driving vehicle, where an operation is performed on the assembly. Subsequently, the assembly can be transported to a second workstation using the self-driving vehicle. The operation can be performed on the assembly while it is being conveyed by the self-driving vehicle.

A method and system for automatically supplying parts for an assembly line is provided. The method includes generating and executing an action plan specifying movements associated with a robotic apparatus associated with the assembly line, items required for the assembly line, and a vehicle associated with providing the items for the robotic apparatus. The vehicle is directed to a location comprising the items and a first item is selected and retrieved upon arriving at the location. A measured weight of the first item is compared to a predetermined maximum weight threshold for delivery by the vehicle and a resulting delivery process with respect to the vehicle, first item, and robotic apparatus is executed. A notification indicating details associated with the delivery process is transmitted to the robotic apparatus.

Disclosed are a robot control system and method. The robot control system includes a storage region, a lifting machine, a control device, and at least one self-driven robot. The storage region includes a loft having at least two storeys and is configured to store a container, and there is provided a passage on the floor of each of the at least two storeys of the loft for the self-driven robot to move through. The lifting machine is configured to transport the self-driven robot or the container to a target storey corresponding to a transportation task. The control device is configured to assign the transportation task to the self-driven robot and plan a travel route on the target storey for the self-driven robot according to the transportation task, and dispatch the self-driven robot to travel according to the travel route to perform the transportation task.

A method for employing a plurality of automated machines to deposit composite material includes a first tool located in a first station and a second tool located in a second station. The first station and the second station are located on a production line. The first station includes at least one automated machine of the plurality of automated machines and the second station includes at least two automated machines of the plurality of automated machines. At least one of the automated machines is movable from the second station to the first station. The method includes monitoring machine capacity and workload requirements of the plurality of automated machines. The method further includes determining an efficiency threshold based upon the machine capacity and workload requirements. The method further includes reallocating at least one of the automated machines from the second station to the first station once the efficiency threshold is met.

Disclosed are a robot control system and method, a computing device, and a storage medium. The robot control system includes a storage region, a lifting machine (104), a control device (105), and at least one self-driven robot (103). The storage region includes a loft having at least two storeys and is configured to store a container (101), and there is provided a passage (102) on the floor of each of the at least two storeys of the loft for the at least one self-driven robot (103) to move through. The lifting machine (104) is configured to transport the at least one self-driven robot (103) or the container (101) to a target storey corresponding to a transportation task. The control device (105) is configured to assign the transportation task to the at least one self-driven robot (103) and plan a travel route on the target storey for the self-driven robot (103) according to the transportation task, and dispatch the at least one self-driven robot to travel according to the travel route to perform the transportation task. The at least one self-driven robot (103) is configured to reach a location of a target container (101) on the target storey corresponding to the transportation task according to the travel route corresponding to the transportation task to pick up the target container (101), and transport the target container (101) to a destination of the transportation task according to the travel route. The control device (105) is communicatively connected to the lifting machine (104) and the at least one self-driven robot (103).

Systems and methods for flexible conveyance in an assembly-line or manufacturing process are disclosed. A fleet of self-driving vehicles and a fleet-management system can be used to convey workpieces through a sequence of workstations at which operations are performed in order to produce a finished assembly. An assembly can be transported to a first workstation using a self-driving vehicle, where an operation is performed on the assembly. Subsequently, the assembly can be transported to a second workstation using the self-driving vehicle. The operation can be performed on the assembly while it is being conveyed by the self-driving vehicle.