Warehouse Control System (WCS)

The full name of the wcs system is: warehouse control system, and some insiders call it: warehouse equipment scheduling system. The wcs system is mainly used in automated warehouses and is an important part of automated warehouses. It gets the task of wms (warehouse management system) upwards, and issues detailed operation instructions to the automation equipment downwards. This article takes the wcs system manufactured by Nanjing Dalu Zhizhi as an example to introduce the main functions and functions of the wcs system in detail.

Main functions of wcs system

1. Docking with the system in the warehouse to realize information interaction in the warehouse

For the manufacturing industry, the wcs system often needs to be docked with major enterprise management software such as the wms storage system, the mes generation and execution system, and the erp system. The wcs system belongs to the lowest level of execution system in the entire enterprise information flow. It needs to obtain instructions from the upper system to guide warehouse operations.

2. The process is smoothly docked with on-site automation equipment

The wcs system is not directly connected to the hardware device, but is connected to the underlying PLC of the hardware device through the communication protocol, and then controls the forward and backward actions of the device. The hardware equipment that the wcs system manufactured by Nanjing Dalu Zhizhi has been docked includes: stacker, quadricycle, AGV trolley, bin car, conveyor line, robotic arm, labeling machine, shape detection light curtain, counting machine, code reading器等。

3. Warehouse on-site monitoring and feedback of equipment status

The wcs system is equivalent to the monitor on the warehouse site. It can intuitively and accurately obtain the status, location, early warning status, and task execution status of all hardware devices in the three-dimensional warehouse. Generally speaking, the wcs system has a built-in three-dimensional monitoring system, which can more intuitively display the warehouse scene situation in a visual form in front of the warehouse manager.

4.wcs system security function

For unmanned warehouses, the most important concern is safety assurance, in addition to operational efficiency. Safety is the top priority for automated warehouses. The wcs system must pay attention to all aspects of functional design to ensure equipment safety, product safety in the warehouse, equipment anti-collision measures, path planning and other issues to improve the safety of automated warehouses in all aspects. level.

(1) Input devices: PC, sensors, switch buttons, etc.

(2) Output equipment: PC, servo motor, electric cylinder, speed regulating motor

(3) Operating environment: Mitsubishi PLC (5U)

(4) Communication network equipment: industrial switch (wired network)

2.2. Supporting software

(1) Program programming and interface development software: VS2019, SQL, Mitsubishi GX Work3 and EasyBuilder Pro

2.3. Installation

(1) Install the PLC on the storage equipment and power on.

(2) Open GX Work3 on the PC, run the corresponding project program, connect to the PLC through the dedicated communication line, and download the compiled program to the Mitsubishi PLC on the programming software.

(3) Software installation test: After the equipment is fully assembled, this PLC program needs to be used in conjunction with the warehouse management system software for testing.