N101-091 TITLE: Automated Shipboard Build-up of Customized Pallet Loads

TECHNOLOGY AREAS: Information Systems, Materials/Processes

ACQUISITION PROGRAM: The Operational Logistics Integration Program Office

OBJECTIVE: Develop an automated system to enable the rapid shipboard build-up of customized pallet loads at the rate of 72 pallet loads per day. These precisely-tailored packages of equipment and supplies are needed to support soldiers ashore.

DESCRIPTION: Currently, sailors manually assemble pallets of supplies on board a ship for soldiers ashore. They break apart existing pallet loads in order to build-up outgoing pallet loads that contain the precise mix of supplies needed. For example, an outgoing pallet load might require a certain number of bullets, cans of soda, bags of rice, and boxes of cereal. These items must be arranged optimally on the destination pallet so that the supplies are not damaged. One sailor is only able to build 15 such customized pallet loads per day, far short of the 72 pallet loads per day needed to properly equip the soldiers ashore. This effort will develop the necessary technology to automate and speed-up the process of constructing customized pallet loads. The resulting technology will need to detect the relevant packing properties (fragility, orientation, size and shape, etc.) of each piece of source material so as to optimize packing of the destination pallet load. Performance goals are to reduce the time to retrieve, assemble, and load pallets by 60% (objective), 40% (minimum). Also, to reduce inventory errors by 75% (objective), 50% (minimum). Additionally, to reduce required logistics personnel by 70% (objective), 40% (minimum). An example of this capability could be a fine-dexterity robotic manipulator that could selectively pick source items from incoming pallets, identify their relevant packing characteristics, and pack the items optimally in a destination pallet. The system must be capable of installation onto existing or future ships, operate within the limits of shipboard power generation and distribution systems, and operate safely in a marine environment. Note that proposers are not meant to be bound by the technologies described here, but are encouraged to provide their own solutions.

PHASE I: Develop a concept design for a system to automatically build-up customized pallet loads.

PHASE II: Conduct testing to prove-out the feasibility of the technologies proposed in Phase I through system or sub-system component demonstrations. Modeling and simulation may be acceptable in some cases.

PHASE III: Transition to a functional product. This technology could also be used in a broad range of non-military and commercial applications where rapid assembly of customized shipments can reduce costs, save time, and decrease the overall environmental impact.

PRIVATE SECTOR COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL/DUAL-USE APPLICATIONS: There are applications for the commercial freight industry where the need exists to break apart incoming shipments in order to assemble custom configurations for outgoing shipments. There are additional applications for distribution centers where automation for de-palletizing and re-palletizing product would save time and money. Other applications relate to the bundling of cargo in Unit Load Devices (ULDs) on commercial aircraft.

REFERENCES:
1. Cargo Specialists� Handbook FM-55-17

2. Seabasing Logistics Enabling Concept from the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, December 2006

3. Seabasing Joint Integrating Concept, 1 August 2005

KEYWORDS: Task-reduction; workload-reduction; demand-tailored; assembly; reconfigure, sustainment

** TOPIC AUTHOR (TPOC) **

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