Dynamic task priority assignments in warehouse
A system and method are disclosed for a warehouse management system having a task database and a server comprising a processor and memory. The system groups one or more tasks from the task database into one or more groups, estimate the latest feasible start time for each group of the one or more groups and assigns a priority for the one or more tasks in each group based, at least in part, on the estimated latest feasible start time for each group.
1 . A warehouse management system, comprising:
a task database and a server comprising a processor and memory, the server configured to:
receive product data from automated machinery having at least one sensor, wherein the product data corresponds to items detected by the automated machinery;
group one or more tasks from the task database into one or more groups;
estimate a latest feasible start time for each group of the one or more groups;
assign a priority based on a priority curve for the one or more tasks in each group based on the estimated latest feasible start time for each group, wherein the priority curve is generated using a piecewise linear approach;
determine the priority of a task and in response to a determination that the priority of the task is at a high priority, assign a worker a task that is not in the worker's work zone, wherein the worker comprises the automated machinery selected from the group consisting of robotic warehouse systems, robotic inventory systems, automated guided vehicles, mobile racking units, automated robotic production machinery, and robotic devices; and
communicate electronically over a network to assign the task to the automated machinery, wherein the automated machinery autonomously completes the task in response to the task assignment from the warehouse management system, and further wherein the task comprises adjusting inventory of the items at one or more stocking points.
2 . The warehouse management system of claim 1 , wherein a worker is assigned a task based on the priority associated with the task.
3 . The warehouse management system of claim 2 , wherein the priority curve comprises:
a base priority buffer;
a maximum priority buffer;
at least one intermediate priority buffer between the base priority buffer and the maximum priority buffer, wherein each buffer is associated with a range of values for a margin, the margin representing a difference between a current time and the latest feasible start time; and
a slope of the priority curve is different for at least two of the buffers.
4 . The warehouse management system of claim 3 , wherein each buffer represents one or more work zones in a warehouse.
5 . The warehouse management system of claim 1 , wherein the server is further configured to:
link related tasks by grouping at least two separate tasks when the at least two tasks are to pick two items from inventory and the two items are a same item;
assign the linked related task to the worker to pick the two items at a same time.
6 . A computer-implemented method, comprising:
receiving product data from automated machinery having at least one sensor, wherein the product data corresponds to items detected by the automated machinery;
grouping one or more tasks from a task database into one or more groups;
estimating a latest feasible start time for each group of the one or more groups;
assigning a priority based on a priority curve for the one or more tasks in each group based on the estimated latest feasible start time for each group, wherein the priority curve is generated using a piecewise linear approach;
determining the priority of a task and in response to a determination that the priority of the task is at a high priority, assign a worker a task that is not in the worker's work zone, wherein the worker comprises the automated machinery selected from the group consisting of robotic warehouse systems, robotic inventory systems, automated guided vehicles, mobile racking units, automated robotic production machinery, and robotic devices; and
communicating electronically over a network from a warehouse management system to assign the task to the automated machinery, wherein the automated machinery is configured to autonomously completes the task in response to the task assignment from the warehouse management system, and further wherein the task comprises adjusting inventory of the items at one or more stocking points.
7 . The method of claim 6 , wherein a worker is assigned a task based on the priority associated with the task.
8 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the priority curve comprises:
a base priority buffer;
a maximum priority buffer;
at least one intermediate priority buffer between the base priority buffer and the maximum priority buffer, wherein each buffer is associated with a range of values for a margin, the margin representing a difference between a current time and the latest feasible start time; and
a slope of the priority curve is different for at least two of the buffers.
9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein each buffer represents one or more work zones in a warehouse.
10 . The method of claim 6 , further comprising:
linking related tasks by grouping at least two separate tasks when the at least two tasks are to pick two items from inventory and the two items are a same item;
assigning the linked related task to the worker to pick the two items at a same time.
11 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium embodied with software, the software when executed configured to:
receive product data from automated machinery having at least one sensor, wherein the product data corresponds to items detected by the automated machinery;
group one or more tasks from a task database into one or more groups;
estimate a latest feasible start time for each group of the one or more groups;
assign a priority based on a priority curve for the one or more tasks in each group based on the estimated latest feasible start time for each group, wherein the priority curve is generated using a piecewise linear approach;
determine the priority of a task and in response to a determination that the priority of the task is at a high priority, assign a worker a task that is not in the worker's work zone, wherein the worker comprises the automated machinery selected from the group consisting of robotic warehouse systems, robotic inventory systems, automated guided vehicles, mobile racking units, automated robotic production machinery, and robotic devices; and
communicate electronically over a network from a warehouse management system to assign the task to the automated machinery, wherein the automated machinery is configured to autonomously completes the task in response to the task assignment from the warehouse management system, and further wherein the task comprises adjusting inventory of the items at one or more stocking points.
12 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 11 , wherein a worker is assigned a task based on the priority associated with the task.
13 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 11 , wherein the priority curve comprises:
a base priority buffer;
a maximum priority buffer;
at least one intermediate priority buffer between the base priority buffer and the maximum priority buffer, wherein each buffer is associated with a range of values for a margin, the margin representing a difference between a current time and the latest feasible start time; and
a slope of the priority curve is different for at least two of the buffers.
14 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 13 , wherein each buffer represents one or more work zones in a warehouse.
15 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 11 , wherein the software when executed is further configured to:
link related tasks by grouping at least two separate tasks when the at least two tasks are to pick two items from inventory and the two items are a same item;
assign the linked related task to the worker to pick the two items at a same time.