A systematic strategy of pallet identification and picking based on deep learning techniques

Purpose This paper presents a comprehensive pallet-picking approach for forklift robots, comprising a pallet identification and localization algorithm (PILA) to detect and locate the pallet and a vehicle alignment algorithm (VAA) to align the vehicle fork arms with the targeted pallet. Design/methodology/approach Opposing vision-based methods or point cloud data strategies, we utilize a low-cost RGB-D camera, and thus PILA exploits both RGB and depth data to quickly and precisely recognize and localize the pallet. The developed method guarantees a high identification rate from RGB images and more precise 3D localization information than a depth camera. Additionally, a deep neural network (DNN) method is applied to detect and locate the pallet in the RGB images. Specifically, the point cloud data is correlated with the labeled region of interest (RoI) in the RGB images, and the pallet's front-face plane is extracted from the point cloud. Furthermore, PILA introduces a universal geometrical rule to identify the pallet's center as a “T-shape” without depending on specific pallet types. Finally, VAA is proposed to implement the vehicle approaching and pallet picking operations as a “proof-of-concept” to test PILA’s performance. Findings Experimentally, the orientation angle and centric location of the two kinds of pallets are investigated without any artificial marking. The results show that the pallet could be located with a three-dimensional localization accuracy of 1 cm and an angle resolution of 0.4 degrees at a distance of 3 m with the vehicle control algorithm. Research limitations/implications PILA’s performance is limited by the current depth camera’s range (< = 3 m), and this is expected to be improved by using a better depth measurement device in the future. Originality/value The results demonstrate that the pallets can be located with an accuracy of 1cm along the x, y, and z directions and affording an angular resolution of 0.4 degrees at a distance of 3m in 700ms.