Automated storage and retrieval system with integral secured personnel access zones and remote rover shutdown
First Claim
1. A transportation system comprising:
- a transportation space including destinations distributed in the transportation space;
multiple independent automated vehicles configured for free roving through the transportation space to and between the destinations so that the vehicles are dynamically distributed through the transportation space; and
a control system communicably connected via a remote communication link to each of the vehicles and having a system controller that addresses each vehicle to different destinations;
where the control system includes a vehicle accountant controller separate and distinct from the system controller, the vehicle accountant controller being connected via the remote communication link to each of the multiple independent automated vehicles and the vehicle accountant controller is configured toindependently and automatically register a dynamic location of each of the at least one of the multiple independent automated vehicles, selected from the multiple independent automated vehicles in the transportation space,commands stop, via the remote communication link, to only the selected at least one of the multiple independent automated vehicles at the registered location if the registered location corresponds to a predetermined portion of the transportation space, andeffects routing changes of other of the selected at least one of the multiple independent automated vehicles from the portion of the transportation space depending on the commanded stop of the selected at least one of the multiple independent automated vehicles.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A transportation system having a transportation space including destinations distributed in the transportation space, multiple independent automated vehicles configured for free roving through the transportation space to and between the destinations so that the vehicles are dynamically distributed through the transportation space, a control system communicably connected via a remote communication link to each of the vehicles and having a system controller that addresses each vehicle to different destinations, and the control system having a vehicle accountant controller separate and distinct from the system controller and configured to independently register a dynamic location of at least one of the vehicles, selected from the multiple vehicles in the transportation space, and command shutdown, via the remote communication link, to only the selected at least one vehicle at the registered location if the registered location corresponds to a predetermined location.
104 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A transportation system comprising:
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a transportation space including destinations distributed in the transportation space; multiple independent automated vehicles configured for free roving through the transportation space to and between the destinations so that the vehicles are dynamically distributed through the transportation space; and a control system communicably connected via a remote communication link to each of the vehicles and having a system controller that addresses each vehicle to different destinations; where the control system includes a vehicle accountant controller separate and distinct from the system controller, the vehicle accountant controller being connected via the remote communication link to each of the multiple independent automated vehicles and the vehicle accountant controller is configured to independently and automatically register a dynamic location of each of the at least one of the multiple independent automated vehicles, selected from the multiple independent automated vehicles in the transportation space, commands stop, via the remote communication link, to only the selected at least one of the multiple independent automated vehicles at the registered location if the registered location corresponds to a predetermined portion of the transportation space, and effects routing changes of other of the selected at least one of the multiple independent automated vehicles from the portion of the transportation space depending on the commanded stop of the selected at least one of the multiple independent automated vehicles. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A transportation system comprises:
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a transportation space including destinations distributed in the transportation space; multiple independent automated vehicles configured for free roving through the transportation space to and between the destinations so that the vehicles are dynamically distributed through the transportation space; and a control system communicably connected via a remote communication link to each of the multiple independent automated vehicles and having a system controller that addresses each of the multiple independent automated vehicles to different destinations; where the control system includes a vehicle accountant controller separate and distinct from the system controller, the vehicle accountant controller being connected via the remote communication link to each of the multiple independent automated vehicles and the vehicle accountant controller is configured so that in response to being provided a predetermined portion of the transportation space in the transport space the vehicle accountant controller independently and automatically registers a dynamic location of each of at least one of the multiple independent automated vehicles corresponding to the predetermined portion of the transportation space, selectably commands stop, via the remote communication link, of only the at least one of the multiple independent automated vehicles at the registered location, and not other of the vehicles, and effects routing changes of other of the selected at least one of the multiple independent automated vehicles from the portion of the transportation space depending on the commanded stop of only the at least one of the multiple independent automated vehicles at the registered location. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method comprising:
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providing a transportation space including destinations distributed in the transportation space; providing multiple independent automated vehicles configured for free roving through the transportation space to and between the destinations so that the vehicles are dynamically distributed through the transportation space; providing a control system communicably connected via a remote communication link to each of the vehicles and having a system controller that addresses each vehicle to different destinations and a vehicle accountant controller separate and distinct from the system controller and connected via the remote communication link to each of the multiple independent automated vehicles; independently and automatically registering, with the vehicle accountant controller of the control system, a dynamic location of each of the at least one of the multiple independent automated vehicles, selected from the multiple independent automated vehicles in the transportation space; commanding stop, via the remote communication link between the vehicle accountant controller and each of the multiple independent automated vehicles, to only the selected at least one of the multiple independent automated vehicles at the registered location if the registered location corresponds to a predetermined portion of the transportation space; and effecting, with the control system, routing changes of other of the selected at least one of the multiple independent automated vehicles from the portion of the transportation space depending on the commanded stop of the selected at least one of the multiple independent automated vehicles. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23)
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Specification