Logistics system, and method for recovery from abnormality in logistics system

A method of recovering from an abnormality in a logistics system provided with at least one transport device and a controller and configured to store inventory data of objects, the method comprising the steps of:

• storing inventory data in a storage unit;
• storing in a transport data storage unit data about objects being transported by the at least one transport device;
• storing in a recovery procedure storage unit predetermined procedures for recovery from abnormalities relating to the at least one transport device;
• detecting with an abnormality detection unit abnormalities relating to the at least one transport device;
• reading out recovery procedures for detected abnormalities from the recovery procedure storage unit and receiving, with a receiving unit, input of recovery procedures to be executed;
• outputting with an instruction unit an instruction to the at least one transport device based on the received recovery procedure;
• and
• updating with an updating unit storage of the inventory data in the storage unit based the received recovery procedures and the data about the objects being transported stored in the transport data storage unit;
• wherein
• the at least one transport device includes at least one transport vehicle;
• the at least one transport vehicle travels along a travel rail;
• the step of updating the storage of the inventory data in the storage unit includes confirming positions of transport destinations of objects being transported by signals from a sensor that detects objects and is provided in the at least one transport device;
• the at least one transport device is provided with, as the sensor, a transport object sensor that detects objects on the at least one transport device, and a preoccupation sensor that detects objects at the positions of the transport destinations from the at least one transport device;
• and
• the method further comprises a step of confirming that the objects have been transported to the positions of the transport destinations based on a condition that the transport object sensor does not detect the objects and the preoccupation sensor detects the objects.

A logistics system comprising:

• at least one transport device;
• and
• a controller which is configured and programmed to store inventory data about objects;
• an inventory data storage unit;
• a transport data storage unit that stores data about objects being transported by the at least one transport device;
• a recovery procedure storage unit that stores predetermined procedures for recovery from abnormalities relating to the at least one transport device;
• an abnormality detection unit that detects abnormalities relating to the at least one transport device;
• a receiving unit that reads out recovery procedures relating to detected abnormalities from the recovery procedure storage unit and that receives inputs of recovery procedures to be executed;
• an instruction unit that outputs instructions to the at least one transport device based on the received recovery procedures;
• and
• an updating unit that updates storage in the inventory data storage unit based on the received recovery procedures and the data stored in the transport data storage unit about the objects being transported;
• wherein
• the at least one transport device includes at least one transport vehicle;
• the controller is provided with a monitor and a drive unit for the monitor, and the drive unit displays configurations of the logistics system on the monitor so as to show the at least one transport device and presence or absence of an abnormality therein, and when the at least one transport device has an abnormality and is designated by an operator on the monitor, recovery procedures for the abnormality in the at least one transport device having the abnormality are displayed on the monitor;
• the at least one transport device is provided with a sensor that detects objects, and the updating unit is configured to confirm positions of transport destinations of objects being transported by signals from the sensor, when updating the storage of the inventory data in the storage unit;
• the at least one transport device is provided with, as the sensor, a transport object sensor that detects objects on the at least one transport device, and a preoccupation sensor that detects objects at the positions of the transport destinations from the at least one transport device;
• and
• the logistics system is configured and programmed to confirm that the objects have been transported to the positions of the transport destinations based on a condition that the transported object sensor does not detect the objects and the preoccupation sensor detects the objects.