VARIABLE PATH AUTOMATED GUIDED VEHICLE
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of controlling an automated guided vehicle system having at least one automated guided vehicle (AGV) comprising:
- loading at least one predetermined route for the AGV to follow into a controller;
instructing the AGV to follow the at least one predetermined route; and
selectively applying a deviation from the predetermined route so that a travel path of the AGV along the predetermined route varies from the predetermined route.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An automated guided vehicle and a method of controlling an automated guided vehicle which are capable of varying the travel path of the automatic guided vehicle in order to reduce wear patterns created in the floor of the material handling facility. The travel path of the AGV is varied by intentionally applying a deviation from a selected predetermined route along which the AGV is traveling.
-
Citations
21 Claims
-
1. A method of controlling an automated guided vehicle system having at least one automated guided vehicle (AGV) comprising:
-
loading at least one predetermined route for the AGV to follow into a controller; instructing the AGV to follow the at least one predetermined route; and selectively applying a deviation from the predetermined route so that a travel path of the AGV along the predetermined route varies from the predetermined route. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
-
-
15. A method of controlling a plurality of automated guided vehicles (AGVs) between stations along predetermined routes, said method comprising:
-
instructing a first AGV to follow a predetermined route to a destination station; applying a deviation to the travel path of the first AGV so that the travel path of the first AGV does not match the predetermined route; instructing a second AGV to follow said predetermined route to said destination station; and applying a deviation to the travel path of the second AGV so that the travel path of the second AGV does not match the travel path of the first AGV. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
-
-
21. An automatic guided vehicle including a guidance system for guiding a vehicle along a route comprising:
-
a detection system for detecting data relating to the route; a controller for using said data to selectively calculate a travel path having at least a portion different from the route.
-
Specification