Analysis of RFID smart warehouse management solutions

With the advancement of society and the development of science and technology, the status of logistics equipment in economic development is becoming more and more important. With the increase in the popularity of forklifts, forklifts play an important role in the logistics system of enterprises. The main force. This trackless, tire-walking loading and unloading vehicle is widely used in factories and mines, warehouses, stations, ports, airports, freight yards, circulation and distribution and other places. Loading and unloading, stacking, destacking and short-distance handling of containers such as pallets and containers is an indispensable equipment for pallet transportation and container transportation.

 

The important position of forklifts in logistics and warehousing has ushered in a good development space. At the same time, diversified and intelligent logistics and warehousing requirements have also put forward higher requirements for the development of forklifts. In recent years, while forklift products have developed from serialization, diversification and green power technology, more and more attention has been paid to the development and application of automatic identification technology in forklifts. The overall operation level of forklifts has been improved, and the combined functions of forklifts have been improved. While the basic power transportation functions, the pursuit of more added value plays an important supporting role for the realization of smart logistics and smart warehouses.

 

RFID is a new automatic identification technology that reforms logistics distribution and product tracking management mode after barcode technology. Compared with traditional automatic identification technology, RFID technology has good penetrability, multi-tag long-distance recognition ability, large capacity of identifiable item information, repeated reading and writing, and specific characteristics of identification information. It is suitable for application in forklift system management. .

 

2. The carrier of the forklift to transport goods is mainly based on pallets. The forklift management system using RFID technology is composed of RFID reading by installing UHF RFID readers, UHF RFID antennas and industrial control computers on the forklift. The system, through the use of RFID tags on the finished pallets, enables the forklift equipped with the RFID reading system to obtain the RFID tag data to confirm the cargo information and complete the uninterrupted tracking of the finished product information when the forklift is picking up the pallet. The management of goods in and out of warehouses, goods transfers, and cargo locations in warehousing logistics provides basic information protection.

 

1. RFID reading system

　The RFID reading system composed of industrial computers, RFID readers and RFID antennas is the core part of forklift applications. The schematic diagram is as follows:

2. RFID tray

The RFID tray is to install the RFID electronic tag in the tray to complete the binding of the tag and the tray.

3. RFID shelf

The RFID shelf is to install the RFID electronic label on the shelf to complete the binding of the label and the shelf.

RFID warehouse management system workflow:

After the enterprise warehouse management system (WMS) generates a new inventory or transfer task, it will automatically send the task to the forklift industrial PC that has not performed the task according to the operation of the forklift system. After the forklift worker starts the task, it will follow The forklift PC guides to the designated shelf or warehouse gate to perform the task. In the process of executing the task, the forklift RFID reading system will complete the confirmation of the in and out of the warehouse or the transfer of goods according to the current task status, and the forklift driver does not need to intervene.

 

1. Storage

During the warehousing operation, personnel enter the warehousing data on the WMS, associate the information of the warehousing goods with the pallet, and can decide whether to specify specific cargo location information according to the actual warehousing goods. For the goods with designated cargo location information, the forklift driver forks the pallet goods to the designated cargo location under the instructions of the forklift industrial PC. When the pallet is ready to be withdrawn, the RFID reading system checks the read cargo location information and the cargo status. The cargo location information specified in the system is compared. If it is correct, it will prompt the completion of the storage, otherwise the forklift driver will be reminded to go to the correct cargo to be put on the shelf.

 

For goods that do not specify a specific cargo space, the forklift driver can select a suitable cargo space to be put on the shelf according to the idle state of the cargo space. After being put on the shelf, the RFID reading system automatically associates the read cargo location label with the cargo pallet label, and uploads it to the background system to complete the goods on the shelf.

 

2. Delivery

During the outbound operation, after the personnel issue the outbound instruction on the WMS, the industrial PC on the forklift will receive the relevant tasks and guide the forklift driver to perform the task of goods out of the warehouse. After the forklift picks up the pallet, the RFID reading system can obtain accurate cargo information through the pallet tag and compare it with the outbound cargo information specified by WMS. If it meets the requirements, it is allowed to leave the warehouse, otherwise an alarm will be issued. Outbound and inbound is a process reverse operation.

 

3. Transfer

Transfers are one-time outbound and one-time warehousing completed inside the warehouse, and the general process control follows the warehousing process control principle.

The application of RFID technology in forklifts optimizes business processes and improves work efficiency, which not only ensures normal production, but also reduces the labor required, greatly reducing labor intensity and greatly improving operating efficiency. At the same time, real-time management of warehouse inventory is realized, which reduces business operating costs, and the economic benefits are very significant.

 

Hardware composition

The application of RFID technology in forklifts has strict requirements on RFID equipment, including dust-proof, waterproof, and vibration-proof design, which can adapt to voltage and current fluctuations. The equipment shell must be sturdy, durable, and corrosion-resistant. At the same time, it should have a good Temperature adaptability, suitable for operation in all kinds of harsh environments.

 

ARU UHFRFID is a vehicle-grade UHF RFID reader. It has passed the automotive industry standard: TS16949 and meets all the requirements of Industry4.0. It has a built-in high-performance M5e UHF RFID module, which meets the requirements of harsh environmental operating standards and is suitable for Deployed on forklifts and various automotive applications.

RFID antenna can choose Wide Range Antenna, which can choose between 30 degrees and 70 degrees, and has a precise reading range.