Patent Description:
Furthermore, the present invention relates to an autonomously guided robot that makes it possible to implement the management method. The robot is defined in independent claim <NUM>.

In general, for the handling of pneumatic tyres at the end of a production line (typically for the loading of the pneumatic tyres into the shipping containers) or in a sorting warehouse, forklifts are used that are equipped with a pair of forks which lift (at least) one stack of pneumatic tyres from the base (typically when the stack of pneumatic tyres is placed upon a pallet) or else that are equipped with a pair of grippers that laterally grasp a stack of pneumatic tyres.

In the last few years the emergence has been observed of so-called "smart" pneumatic tyres, which are fitted with transponders (i.e., with electronic devices that are suitable for communicating using radio frequency) that make it possible to remotely communicate information such as the identification, characteristics and history of the pneumatic tyre.

Consequently, an operator, in addition to handling pneumatic tyres by means of a forklift, must also be able to access such information and therefore read, using an appropriate reader, the transponders associated with the pneumatic tyres themselves, for example in order to verify that the operator is working on the correct pneumatic tyres and/or in order to store, within an electronic register, a modification to the position of the pneumatic tyres.

Normally the operator that maneuvers the forklift is equipped with a manual reader (i.e., a reader of limited weight that makes it easy to transport): once the pneumatic tyres have been loaded onto the forklift the operator descends from the forklift and, approaching the pneumatic tyres with the reader, reads the corresponding transponders in order to identify with certainty the pneumatic tyres themselves. This operational procedure involves however a significant and inefficient loss of time, insofar as the operator must descend from the forklift (therefore having to turn off the forklift and arrange it in a parking configuration), and must also take the manual reader up to each pneumatic tyre in order to read the corresponding transponder (i.e., known manual readers are not capable of simultaneously reading the transponders of all of the pneumatic tyres of a stack of pneumatic tyres, but rather it is necessary to take the reader up to each individual pneumatic tyre of the stack).

In this regard it is important to observe that the maximum reading distance of a transponder embedded within a single pneumatic tyre is around <NUM>-<NUM> meters and that a stack of pneumatic tyres has a height that is normally greater than <NUM> meters (greater therefore than the maximum reading distance); furthermore, when numerous pneumatic tyres are close together (stacked), shielding and/or reflections can be created due to metallic parts of the pneumatic tyres themselves, thereby further reducing the maximum reading distance of the transponders embedded within the pneumatic tyres.

In order to increase the maximum pneumatic tyre transponder reading distance, it has been proposed to apply, on the outer surface of the pneumatic tyre (i.e., on the tread of the pneumatic tyres), one or two additional and temporary transponders (insofar as they are clearly intended to be removed during first assembly) which, in not being shielded by the pneumatic tyres (they are arranged externally), can be read at a much greater distance compared to a transponder embedded within the structure of the pneumatic tyre. However, this solution involves a considerable increase in costs (both as regards the requirement of having to purchase additional transponders, and the requirement to program and apply the additional transponders), and also an increase in waste generated by the process (the additional transponders will be discarded during first assembly).

In patent application <CIT>, the implementation is described of a reader that is fitted with an elongated antenna which can be inserted into a stack of pneumatic tyres in order to read simultaneously, i.e. with a single maneuver such as to introduce the antenna into the space available within the stack of pneumatic tyres, the transponders of all of the pneumatic tyres of the stack.

Such a reader, fitted with an elongated antenna, can be used manually by an operator (in this case the stack of pneumatic tyres remains stationary and the reader is moved), or else it can be arranged in a fixed position (on the floor from below or within a portal from above) and a forklift is driven in such a way as to insert the stack of pneumatic tyres into the antenna (in this case the stack of pneumatic tyres moves and the reader remains stationary). That proposed within patent application <CIT> also however involves a loss of time insofar as, in any case, it requires the operator to descend from the forklift in order to insert the antenna into the stack of pneumatic tyres, or else it requires the operator to perform rather complex maneuvers in order to insert the stack of pneumatic tyres into the antenna (with the risk of damaging the antenna if by chance the pneumatic tyres impact the antenna due to an error in maneuvering).

The patent application <CIT> describes a forklift comprising a transponder reader device fitted with an antenna and a movement unit, which supports the antenna and that is capable of moving the antenna between a waiting position, wherein the antenna is arranged at a certain distance from the stack of pneumatic tyres carried by the forklift gripping device, and a working position, wherein the antenna is arranged inside the stack of pneumatic tyres carried by the forklift gripping device. The solution proposed in the patent application <CIT> makes it possible to significantly reduce, but not completely annul, the losses of time for the operator; furthermore, this solution requires the installation on board the forklift of a control and movement unit which is relatively bulky and complex in having to move the antenna of the reading device in order to allow the antenna to complete some rather large movements.

The patent application <CIT> describes a small robotic vehicle that is manually guided through the shelves of a store or a warehouse in order to generate an inventory of the items on the shelving, identifying the items, recognizing a position for each item, and reading a barcode for each item.

The patent application <CIT> describes a small robotic vehicle that in passing through the shelves of a store or a warehouse generates an inventory of the items on the shelf, reading in radio frequency (or contactlessly) "smart labels" that are attached to the items.

The aim of the present invention is to provide a method for the management of a warehouse that houses pneumatic tyres fitted with transponders and arranged in vertical stacks, which method is both free from the disadvantages described above and, at the same time, is easy and inexpensive to implement.

According to the present invention, a method is provided for the management of a warehouse that houses pneumatic tyres fitted with transponders and arranged in vertical stacks as defined in independent claim <NUM>. Furthermore, the present invention relates to an autonomously guided robot that makes it possible to implement the management method as defined in independent claim <NUM>.

The present invention will now be described with reference to the attached drawings, which illustrate an exemplary, non-limiting embodiment, wherein:.

In <FIG>, indicated in the entirety thereof with the number <NUM> is a storage warehouse for pneumatic tyres <NUM> that are to be loaded into containers or trucks in order to be shipped to customers.

A plurality of support elements <NUM> is arranged within the storage warehouse <NUM>, wherein each thereof is suitable for supporting a stack of pneumatic tyres <NUM> oriented vertically at a certain distance from the ground (i.e., from the floor of the storage warehouse <NUM>); i.e., each support element <NUM> maintains the base of a stack of pneumatic tyres <NUM> raised above the ground below, in such a way that there is a gap between the base of a stack of pneumatic tyres <NUM> and the ground. In other words, the support elements <NUM> are shelves or racks that support the stacks of pneumatic tyres <NUM>, keeping them raised above the ground (i.e., above the floor of the storage warehouse <NUM>).

A series of forklifts <NUM> operate within the storage warehouse <NUM> which forklifts move the stacks of pneumatic tyres <NUM> and in particular place the stacks of pneumatic tyres <NUM> originating from the production lines onto the support elements <NUM> and pick up the stacks of pneumatic tyres <NUM> from the support elements <NUM> in order to place the stacks of pneumatic tyres <NUM> within a container or truck.

Each forklift <NUM> is a utility vehicle equipped with wheels, is driven by an electric, diesel or gas motor, and comprises a gripping device <NUM> which is arranged at the front and which is suitable for picking-up a stack of pneumatic tyres <NUM>. In the embodiment illustrated in the accompanying figures, the gripping device <NUM> comprises a pair of forks (only one of which is visible in the attached figures), which raise the stack of pneumatic tyres <NUM> from the base; according to a different embodiment, not illustrated, the gripping device <NUM> comprises a pair of grippers that grasp the stack of pneumatic tyres <NUM> laterally.

As illustrated in <FIG>, each pneumatic tyre <NUM> has an annular shape having a central cavity <NUM>. Furthermore, each pneumatic tyre <NUM> is fitted with its own transponder <NUM>, i.e., with an electronic device (normally passive, i.e., without its own a power supply) that is capable of storing information and that is able to communicate by means of radio frequency. In other words, each transponder <NUM> is a small-sized "smart label" that is integrated into the pneumatic tyre <NUM> and that is capable of responding to remote queries from specific fixed or portable devices, called readers (or also querying devices); a reader is capable of reading and/or modifying the information contained within the transponder <NUM> that it is querying, while communicating with the transponder itself <NUM> using radio frequency. Accordingly, the transponder <NUM> is part of a wireless reading and/or writing system that operates according to so-called RFID technology ("RadioFrequency IDentification").

The storage warehouse <NUM> is provided with a logistics system that makes it possible to manage, in a highly automated manner, the handling of pneumatic tyres <NUM> by virtue of the autonomous reading (i.e., without the manual intervention of an operator) of the transponders <NUM> of the pneumatic tyres <NUM>.

Within the storage warehouse <NUM> (at least) one autonomously guided robot <NUM> also operates for the automatic recognition of pneumatic tyres <NUM> by reading the corresponding transponders <NUM> (the autonomously guided robot <NUM> is an essential part of the logistics system). In other words, the autonomously guided robot <NUM> is capable of moving by itself (independently) within the storage warehouse <NUM> in order to position itself at the base of a stack of pneumatic tyres <NUM> (as illustrated in <FIG>) and to then read the transponders <NUM> of the stack of pneumatic tyres <NUM> arranged above the same autonomously guided robot <NUM>.

In particular and as best illustrated in <FIG>, the autonomously guided robot <NUM> comprises a reader device <NUM>, which is capable of communicating (interacting) with the transponders <NUM> of the pneumatic tyres <NUM>; generally the reader device <NUM> limits itself to reading the contents of the memory of the transponders <NUM>, essentially in order to identify the corresponding pneumatic tyres <NUM> but the reader device <NUM> may also (partially) modify the contents of the memory of the transponders <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the reader device <NUM> comprises a wireless reader component <NUM> (i.e., that makes use of electromagnetic waves) and at least one antenna <NUM> which emits and receives radio waves; it is possible that the reader component <NUM> comprises a plurality of antennas <NUM> (for example two, three or four antennas <NUM>).

According to a preferred embodiment illustrated in <FIG>, the antenna <NUM> of the reader device <NUM> comprises a vertically oriented central support <NUM> that supports four monopoles <NUM> arranged in a cross and oriented horizontally. Preferably, the reader component <NUM> activates the four monopoles <NUM> in sequence, and therefore in a non-synchronized manner (i.e., one at a time) insofar as this mode allows for faster reading of the transponders <NUM> that are incorporated into the pneumatic tyres <NUM>; in other words, the reader component <NUM> cyclically activates, and at a relatively high frequency, just one monopole <NUM> at a time, in such a way as to have, at each instant, one monopole <NUM> active and the other three monopoles <NUM> turned off.

According to a preferred embodiment illustrated in the attached figures, the autonomously guided robot <NUM> comprises a movement unit <NUM> that carries, on the top thereof, the antenna <NUM> of the reader device <NUM> and it is telescopic, i.e., the vertical extent thereof can be varied (as is evident in comparing <FIG>). In other words, the telescopic displacement unit <NUM> is suitable for imparting a vertical linear movement (i.e., along a vertical Z direction) to the antenna <NUM> of the reader device <NUM>, between a handling position (shown in <FIG>), wherein the antenna <NUM> is at the minimum distance from the autonomously guided robot <NUM> (i.e., the ground) and the telescopic movement unit <NUM> is at the minimum extension thereof, and a reading position (illustrated in <FIG>), wherein the antenna <NUM> is moved to the maximum distance from the autonomously guided robot <NUM> (i.e., the ground) and the telescopic movement unit <NUM> is at the maximum extension thereof. The antenna <NUM> of the reader device <NUM> is maintained in the handling position (illustrated in <FIG>) when the autonomously guided robot <NUM> is required to move within the storage warehouse <NUM> (i.e., it has to move) while the antenna <NUM> of the reader device <NUM> is temporarily moved from the handling position (illustrated in <FIG>) to the reading position (illustrated in <FIG>) when the autonomously guided robot <NUM> is stopped at the bottom and at the center of a stack of pneumatic tyres <NUM> in order to allow for the reading of the transponders <NUM> of all of the pneumatic tyres <NUM>.

In particular, and as illustrated in <FIG>, the telescopic displacement unit <NUM> is provided with an electric actuator <NUM> that expands and contracts the telescopic movement unit <NUM> such as to vertically move the antenna <NUM> of the reader device <NUM> between the handling position (illustrated in <FIG>) and the reading position (illustrated in <FIG>).

According to a possible embodiment illustrated in <FIG>, the antenna <NUM> of the reader device <NUM> is rotatably mounted upon the movement unit <NUM> such as to rotate around a vertical axis of rotation <NUM>; in this case the electric actuator <NUM> may simultaneously impart to the antenna <NUM> both the vertical translational movement, and the rotational movement around the axis of rotation <NUM>. Alternatively, the antenna <NUM> of the reader device <NUM> is not rotatably mounted upon the movement unit <NUM>, but in use the autonomously guided robot <NUM> turns (pirouettes) upon itself, utilizing the means of locomotion thereof, thereby turning the antenna <NUM> of the reader device <NUM> (together with the rest of the autonomously guided robot <NUM>) around the vertical axis of rotation <NUM>.

According to a different embodiment (not illustrated), the linear displacement (i.e., the offset) along vertical direction Z of the antenna <NUM> of the reader device <NUM> between the handling position (illustrated in <FIG>) and the reading position (illustrated in <FIG>) is performed by means of a different mechanism (i.e., a mechanism other than a telescopic support component).

As previously mentioned, the reader device <NUM> comprises the reader component <NUM> and the antenna <NUM>. According to a possible embodiment illustrated in the attached figures, only the antenna <NUM> of the reader device <NUM> is mounted upon the movement unit <NUM> in order to be moved by the movement unit <NUM> itself between the handling position (illustrated in <FIG>) and the reading position (illustrated in <FIG>); i.e., the reader component <NUM> is arranged in a fixed position upon the autonomously guided robot <NUM> and never moves in relation to the autonomously guided robot <NUM> (in this case, the reader component <NUM> is normally connected to the antenna <NUM> by means of an extendable coaxial cable, for example partially coiled).

According to an alternative embodiment (not illustrated), the entire reader device <NUM> is mounted on the movement unit <NUM> in order to be moved by the movement unit <NUM> itself, between the handling position (illustrated in <FIG>) and the reading position (illustrated in <FIG>), i.e., the movement unit <NUM> moves both the reader component <NUM> and the antenna <NUM> which together form an indivisible unit.

As previously mentioned, the autonomously guided robot <NUM> moves by itself within the storage warehouse <NUM>, moving itself from time to time to the base of a stack of pneumatic tyres <NUM> in order to read the transponders <NUM> of the pneumatic tyres <NUM> resting on a corresponding support element <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the autonomously guided robot <NUM> comprises sensors to determine the position of the autonomously guided robot <NUM> within the storage warehouse <NUM>, as well as to determine the exact position of the pneumatic tyres <NUM> (and in particular the central cavity <NUM> of the pneumatic tyres <NUM>) arranged above the autonomously guided robot <NUM>. These sensors may include a camera <NUM> (i.e., an optical sensor) that is oriented vertically upward and constitutes the main guide for the movement of the autonomously guided robot <NUM> and possibly proximity sensors (mechanical or non-contact) that are arranged along the side edge of the autonomously guided robot <NUM> and that detect the presence of any obstacles. In particular, the camera <NUM> is oriented upward in order to frame the ceiling of the storage warehouse <NUM> (whereupon graphics may be applied that simplify the determination of the position of the autonomously guided robot <NUM>), the camera <NUM> is oriented upward in order to also frame, from below, a stack of pneumatic tyres <NUM> above the autonomously guided robot <NUM>, and finally the camera <NUM> is also oriented upward in order to frame, from below, the support elements <NUM> that support the stacks of pneumatic tyres <NUM> and that are preferably provided with recognition graphics facing downward (i.e., each support element <NUM> carries an alphanumeric or bar code that is oriented downward). The autonomously guided robot <NUM> may also comprise a sensor that detects the proximity of a forklift <NUM>, in order to stop the movement of the autonomously guided robot <NUM> when a forklift <NUM> is too close (or to move the autonomously guided robot <NUM> away from the forklift <NUM>).

It is important to emphasize that the autonomously guided robot <NUM> remains and moves itself, as far as possible, beneath the support elements <NUM> in such a way as to always remain external to the travel paths of the forklifts <NUM> and the travel paths of operators on foot (as will also be discussed below, the charging stations for the autonomously guided robot <NUM> are arranged below the support elements <NUM>). Consequently, the autonomously guided robot <NUM> emerges from a support element <NUM>, only to move beneath another support element <NUM>, in taking the shortest path on the outside of the support elements <NUM>; otherwise, the autonomously guided robot <NUM> always remains in the "safe" and "protected" position (i.e., with no risk of collisions) beneath a support element <NUM>.

The autonomously guided robot <NUM> comprises a wireless communication device <NUM> (for example, utilizing WiFi technology, beacon BLE technology, or Zigbee technology) that makes it possible for the autonomously guided robot <NUM> to continuously communicate with a storage warehouse <NUM> control server <NUM> (illustrated schematically in <FIG>). In this way, the autonomously guided robot <NUM> is guided by the control server <NUM> toward the support elements <NUM> that support the stacks of pneumatic tyres <NUM> to be checked and provides the control server <NUM> with the results of the readings. The storage warehouse <NUM> control server <NUM> is also connected to a tablet computer <NUM> (or a similar portable device) that is used by a forklift <NUM> operator; by means of the tablet computer <NUM>, a forklift <NUM> operator receives operational instructions from the control server <NUM> and/or directly from the autonomously guided robot <NUM> and communicates to the control server <NUM> the execution of assigned tasks such as to be able to update, in real time, the state of the storage warehouse <NUM>, namely of those pneumatic tyres <NUM> that have entered and exited and that are currently present within the storage warehouse <NUM>.

In other words, the control server <NUM> executes management software that handles the communication between the autonomously guided robot <NUM>, and human operators (some of whom are driving the forklifts <NUM>).

In order to ensure that a forklift <NUM> operator can quickly and reliably know that all of the transponders <NUM> of the pneumatic tyres <NUM> that form a stack carried by the gripping device <NUM> (generally a stack of pneumatic tyres <NUM> for trucks (TBR) is composed of five to seven TBR pneumatic tyres <NUM>, one on top of another as a function of the size of the pneumatic tyres <NUM> themselves), the operator must, from time to time, enter (type) the number of pneumatic tyres <NUM> loaded onto the gripping device <NUM> using the tablet computer <NUM>; the software installed on the tablet computer <NUM> verifies that the number of transponders <NUM> that have been read by the reader device <NUM> corresponds (or is equal to) the number of pneumatic tyres <NUM> loaded onto the gripping device of the forklift <NUM> (provided by the operator): in the event of parity, the software produces a positive signal (for example by means of a green light) and the operation of reading the transponders <NUM> is concluded, while, in the case of disparity, the software produces a negative signal (for example by means of a red light and an acoustic warning) and the operation of reading the transponders <NUM> has to be repeated (placing the stack of pneumatic tyres <NUM> back onto a support element <NUM> in order to allow the autonomously guided robot <NUM> to repeat the reading, possibly using a slower, and therefore more "robust", reading mode).

As illustrated in <FIG>, the autonomously guided robot <NUM> comprises a main body <NUM> which is provided with a series of wheels <NUM>, <NUM> that are motorized by means of respective electric motors. The main body <NUM> of the autonomously guided robot <NUM> supports the reader component <NUM> of the reader device <NUM>, the movement unit <NUM> (whereupon the antenna <NUM> of the reader device <NUM> is mounted), the camera <NUM> and the communication device <NUM>.

Furthermore, the autonomously guided robot <NUM> comprises a control unit <NUM> that supervises the operation of the same autonomously guided robot <NUM>. In particular, the control unit <NUM> is configured such as to move the main body <NUM> in such a way as to arrange the antenna <NUM> at the center of the stack of pneumatic tyres <NUM> at the central cavities <NUM> of the pneumatic tyres <NUM> themselves, in order to drive (during the reading of the transponders <NUM>) the movement unit <NUM> in order to move the antenna <NUM> in relation to the main body <NUM> and along the vertical direction Z in such a way as to insert the antenna <NUM> into the central cavity <NUM> of the pneumatic tyres <NUM>, and finally in order to drive (once the reading of the transponders <NUM> has concluded) the movement unit <NUM> in order to move the antenna <NUM> in relation to the main body <NUM> and along the vertical direction Z in such a way as to extract the antenna <NUM> from the central cavity <NUM> of the pneumatic tyres <NUM>.

In other words, on the ground (i.e., on the floor of the storage warehouse <NUM>) the vertical stacks of pneumatic tyres <NUM> are arranged upon respective support elements <NUM>, wherein each thereof supports at least one stack of pneumatic tyres <NUM> at a distance from the floor of the storage warehouse <NUM> that is greater than a vertical dimension of the autonomously guided robot <NUM> in such a way that the base of each stack is at a distance from the floor of the storage warehouse <NUM> that is greater than the vertical dimension of the autonomously guided robot <NUM>; the autonomously guided robot <NUM> (when the antenna <NUM> of the reader device <NUM> is retracted into the main body <NUM>) can therefore pass unhindered beneath the stacks of pneumatic tyres <NUM> arranged on the support elements <NUM>. In use, the autonomously guided robot <NUM> is independently moved over the ground (i.e., over the floor of the storage warehouse <NUM>) in order to be positioned beneath a support element <NUM> and beneath a first stack of pneumatic tyres <NUM> such as to position the antenna <NUM> at the center of the pneumatic tyres of the first stack at the central cavities <NUM> of the pneumatic tyres <NUM> themselves; at this point, the antenna <NUM> is raised vertically in relation to the main body <NUM> and along the vertical direction Z such that the antenna <NUM> rises within the central cavities <NUM> of the pneumatic tyres <NUM> of the first stack; in the meantime (i.e., when the antenna <NUM> is rising within the central cavities <NUM> of the pneumatic tyres <NUM> of the first stack), the reader device <NUM> reads the transponders <NUM> of the pneumatic tyres <NUM> forming the first stack. Once the reading of the transponders <NUM> of the pneumatic tyres <NUM> forming the first stack has been concluded, the antenna <NUM> is lowered vertically in relation to the main body <NUM> and along the vertical direction Z such as to extract the antenna <NUM> from the central cavities <NUM> of those pneumatic tyres <NUM> forming the first stack (i.e., in order to release the antenna <NUM> from the central cavities <NUM> of the pneumatic tyres <NUM> forming the first stack). At this point the reading of the transponders <NUM> of the pneumatic tyres <NUM> forming the first stack is complete, and therefore the autonomously guided robot <NUM> can be moved to beneath a second stack of pneumatic tyres <NUM> that is different from the first stack of pneumatic tyres <NUM> such as to position the antenna <NUM> at the center of the pneumatic tyres <NUM> of the second stack at the central cavities <NUM> of the pneumatic tyres <NUM> themselves and to then execute the reading of the transponders <NUM> of those pneumatic tyres <NUM> forming the second stack in the same way as previously performed for the transponders <NUM> of the pneumatic tyres <NUM> forming the first stack.

According to a possible embodiment, the reading of the transponders <NUM> of those pneumatic tyres <NUM> forming a stack is performed twice (in a redundant way, in order to perform a double check): a first reading of the transponders <NUM> is performed while the antenna <NUM> rises vertically within the central cavities <NUM> of those pneumatic tyres <NUM> forming the stack (i.e., during the forward movement of the antenna <NUM>) while a second reading of the transponders <NUM> is performed while the antenna <NUM> descends vertically within the central cavities <NUM> of those pneumatic tyres <NUM> forming the stack (i.e., during the return movement of the antenna <NUM>).

According to a further embodiment, the reading of the transponders <NUM> of those pneumatic tyres <NUM> forming a stack is performed only once while the antenna <NUM> descends vertically within the central cavities <NUM> of those pneumatic tyres <NUM> forming the stack (i.e., during the return movement of the antenna <NUM>) rather than while the antenna <NUM> ascends vertically within the central cavities <NUM> of those pneumatic tyres <NUM> forming the stack (i.e., during the forward movement of the antenna <NUM>).

The storage warehouse <NUM> comprises one or more charging stations for the autonomously guided robot <NUM> that are preferably arranged beneath the support elements <NUM>, or else in positions that are only accessible to the autonomously guided robot <NUM> (which can move beneath the support elements <NUM>) and therefore externally to the movements of the forklifts <NUM> and operators on foot.

In the alternative embodiment illustrated in <FIG>, instead of using forklifts <NUM> that pick up a stack of pneumatic tyres <NUM> from a support element <NUM> and load the stack of pneumatic tyres <NUM> into a container or into a truck, groups of support elements <NUM> (that house respective stacks of pneumatic tyres <NUM>) are mounted onto a carriage <NUM> equipped with wheels <NUM>; in this case, a carriage <NUM> which carries a group of support elements <NUM> (that house respective stacks of pneumatic tyres <NUM>) is pushed into a container or a truck.

In the embodiment illustrated in <FIG>, the autonomously guided robot <NUM> is "terrestrial", i.e., it moves over the floor of the storage warehouse <NUM> by means of the wheels <NUM>; in the alternative embodiment shown in <FIG>, the autonomously guided robot <NUM> is "airborne", i.e., it flies within the storage warehouse <NUM> by means of propellers (in other words, the autonomously guided robot <NUM> is an unmanned aerial vehicle commonly known as a drone).

It is also possible that within a single storage warehouse <NUM>, both "terrestrial" autonomously guided robots <NUM> and "airborne" autonomously guided robots <NUM> are simultaneously present.

The embodiments described herein can be combined with each other without departing from the scope of protection defined in the attached set of claims.

The management method described above, utilizing the autonomously guided robot <NUM>, has many advantages.

In the first place, the management method described above makes it possible to effectively, safely (i.e., minimizing the possibility of errors), and efficiently read the transponders <NUM> of all of the pneumatic tyres <NUM> of a stack carried by a support element <NUM> in a way that is completely independent of the operations performed by an operator of a forklift <NUM>. That is to say that the reading of the transponders <NUM> of a stack of pneumatic tyres <NUM> is performed without the operator of a forklift <NUM> having to perform any type of operation and therefore without any increase in time for the same operator.

Claim 1:
Method for the management of a warehouse (<NUM>) that houses pneumatic tyres (<NUM>) fitted with transponders (<NUM>) and comprising the step of stacking the pneumatic tyres (<NUM>) one on top of another such as to form vertical stacks;
the method is characterized in that it comprises the further steps of:
• moving over a floor of the warehouse (<NUM>) an autonomously guided robot (<NUM>) being capable of moving independently and supporting a reader device (<NUM>) that is provided with a reader component (<NUM>) and an antenna (<NUM>) and that is capable of reading the transponders (<NUM>);
• arranging the vertical stacks of pneumatic tyres (<NUM>) on respective support elements (<NUM>), wherein each thereof supports at least one stack of pneumatic tyres (<NUM>) at a distance from the floor of the warehouse (<NUM>) that is greater than a vertical dimension of the autonomously guided robot (<NUM>) in such a way that the base of each stack is at a distance from the floor of the warehouse (<NUM>) that is greater than the vertical dimension of the autonomously guided robot (<NUM>);
• moving the autonomously guided robot (<NUM>) beneath a support element (<NUM>) and beneath a first stack of pneumatic tyres (<NUM>) such as to position the antenna (<NUM>) at the center of the pneumatic tyres (<NUM>) of the first stack, at the central cavities (<NUM>) of the pneumatic tyres (<NUM>);
• vertically raising the antenna (<NUM>) in relation to a main body (<NUM>) of the autonomously guided robot (<NUM>) along a vertical direction (Z) such that the antenna (<NUM>) rises within the central cavities (<NUM>) of the pneumatic tyres (<NUM>) of the first stack;
• vertically lowering the antenna (<NUM>) in relation to a main body (<NUM>) of the autonomously guided robot (<NUM>) along the vertical direction (Z) such that the antenna (<NUM>) is extracted from the central cavities (<NUM>) of the pneumatic tyres (<NUM>) forming the first stack; and
• reading, by means of the reader device (<NUM>), the transponders (<NUM>) of the pneumatic tyres (<NUM>) forming the first stack while the antenna (<NUM>) is inside the central cavities (<NUM>) of the pneumatic tyres (<NUM>) forming the first stack.