STILL RFID modules

STILL RFID LOCATOR

The STILL RFID LOCATOR registers the transported goods using logical combinations of measured values (lift height, load distance etc.) on board of the truck and the location of the truck as such. For this application it makes sense to register the goods once (e.g. at goods receipt) by conventional means (barcode etc.) and store that information in the central material management system.

After this the position of the goods is permanently traced by tracing the position of the warehouse truck moving the load. RFID tags are installed everywhere in the floor of the hall, so that the truck can constantly report its position with the load to the MMS. When the load is stacked, height sensors detect the height at which the load is stored (= rack level or the like) and another sensor measuring the position of the load on the forks detects whether the load was actually taken off the forks. The MMS is fed with the information at which location the goods are stored. For retrieval processes the systems follows the same principles in respective order.

Condition for a trouble-free procedure is that storage and retrieval processes are only made by trucks equipped with RFID LOCATORS.

STILL RFID NAVIGATOR

The STILL RFID NAVIGATOR module uses the location information of the LOCATOR and connects this information to the destinations given by the control system e.g. MMS.i and the stored layout of the facility to indicate the direction to the driver.

This has some advantages:

- optimised fleet utilisation by short travel distances

- guided travelling to storage/retrieval locations

- short training times for temporary staff

- performance evaluation of drivers by comparing the nominal to the actual driving times.

STILL RFID SAFETY

The STILL RFID SAFETY module allows triggering functions in the truck controlled by its position without any action of the driver.

In the example given in figure 4 the maximum speed is reduced to 10 km/h before passing the gateway. This is triggered when the truck passes over the transponder areas A and B. After passing the gate and when passing over the transponder areas in the opposite direction the speed limit is released. In case of need the STILL RFID SAFETY system also switches electric consumers such as lights or horn on and off and monitors the permitted lift height as well.

STILL RFID INTERFACE

The STILL RFID INTERFACE module is a sales name for connectivity between the truck and the central warehouse control and is included in the modules described above.