UNMANNED AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE FOR DISPLACING FEED

• US 20090069968A1
• Filed: 03/23/2007
• Published: 03/12/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Maasland N.V.
• Original Assignee: Maasland N.V.
• Inventors: Van Den Berg, Karel
• Granted Patent: US 8,694,191 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/23
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 1/105 Movable feed barriers, slides or fences
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 5/0266 with stable trolleys, e.g. suspended

Abstract

An unmanned autonomous vehicle for displacing feed lying on a floor is provided with two wheels that are separately drivable, a distance determining device for determining the distance from the vehicle to a wall portion, an orientation determining device for determining the orientation of the centre line of the vehicle relative to the wall portion, a torque difference determining device for determining the torque difference between the wheels, a control unit for controlling the vehicle and moving it in a direction of travel, and a feed displacing arrangement for displacing feed substantially sidewardly. The control unit may be programmed in such a way that during operation the vehicle will maintain a distance determined by the distance determining device to the wall portion, which distance is greater than or equal to a pre-adjusted minimum distance to the wall portion. During operation the centre line of the vehicle may be maintained with an orientation determined by the orientation determining device relative to the wall portion, which orientation is at least almost equal to a pre-adjusted orientation. During operation the drivable wheels of the vehicle may show a torque difference determined by the torque difference determining device, which difference can then be maintained at a value smaller than or equal to a pre-adjusted maximum torque.

Claims

1. An unmanned autonomous vehicle for substantially sidewardly displacing feed lying on a floor, which vehicle is provided with:

two wheels that are separately drivable by separate drives;

a distance determining device for determining the distance from the vehicle to a wall portion;

a torque difference adjusting device for adjusting the torque difference between the wheels;

a feed displacing arrangement for substantially sidewardly displacing feed; and

a control unit for controlling the vehicle and moving it in a direction of travel, the control unit being programmed to maintain a distance determined by the distance determining device to the wall portion, which distance is greater than or equal to a pre-adjusted minimum distance to the wall portion.

2. The unmanned vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the torque difference adjusting device is provided with a torque difference determining device for determining the torque difference between the wheels.

3. The unmanned vehicle as claimed in claim 2, wherein the control unit is programmed in such a way that during operation the drivable wheels of the vehicle will show a torque difference determined by the torque difference determining device, which distance is smaller than or equal to a pre-adjusted maximum torque.

4. The unmanned vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the unmanned vehicle is provided with an orientation determining device for determining the orientation of the centre line of the vehicle relative to the wall portion, the control unit being programmed in such a way that during operation the centre line of the vehicle will maintain an orientation determined by the orientation determining device relative to the wall portion, which orientation is at least almost equal to a pre-adjusted orientation.

5. The unmanned autonomous vehicle as claimed in claim 2, wherein the control unit is programmed in such a way that for controlling the vehicle, priority is given to the distance determined by the distance determining device in combination with the pre-adjusted minimum distance.

6. The unmanned autonomous vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pre-adjustable distance is adjustable during operation.

7. The unmanned autonomous vehicle as claimed in claim 3, wherein the pre-adjusted maximum torque difference is adjustable during operation.

8. The unmanned autonomous vehicle as claimed in claim 4, wherein the pre-adjusted orientation is adjustable during operation.

9. The unmanned autonomous vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the feed displacing arrangement comprise a freely rotatable circular element whose outer circumference constitutes the outer circumference of the vehicle.

10. The unmanned autonomous vehicle as claimed in claim 7, wherein the circular element is tilted in such a way that, at least almost in the direction of travel of the vehicle, it is located closest to the floor.

11. The unmanned autonomous vehicle as claimed in claim 9, wherein the angle enclosed by the circular element and the floor is adjustable.

12. The unmanned autonomous vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the distance determining device comprises an ultrasonic sensor.

13. The unmanned autonomous vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the unmanned vehicle is provided with a device for detecting skid of at least one of the drivable wheels.

14. The unmanned autonomous vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the unmanned vehicle is provided with a chargeable energy supply.

15. The unmanned autonomous vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the unmanned vehicle is provided with an open bottom.

16. The unmanned autonomous vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the unmanned vehicle is provided with a storage container for containing feed, and with a discharge device for discharging feed to the floor.

17. The unmanned autonomous vehicle as claimed in claim 16, wherein the storage container is provided with a mixing device for mixing feed.

18. The unmanned autonomous vehicle as claimed in claim 16, wherein the control unit controls the operation of the discharge device on the basis of data from the distance determining device or the torque difference determining device or the speed of the vehicle or the weight decrease of the storage container.

19. The unmanned autonomous vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the unmanned vehicle is provided with a signalling device for supplying a signal, the control unit controlling the operation of the signalling device on the basis of data from the distance determining device or the torque difference determining device.

20. An unmanned autonomous vehicle for displacing feed lying on a floor, which vehicle is provided with:

a drive arrangement for moving the vehicle in a direction of travel;

a position determining device for at least partially determining a relative position of the vehicle;

a feed displacing arrangement for displacing feed, the feed displacing arrangement comprising a freely rotatable circular element whose outer circumference constitutes an outer circumference of the vehicle; and

a control unit for controlling the vehicle.

21. A method for controlling an unmanned autonomous vehicle for displacing feed lying on a floor, comprising:

determining the distance from the vehicle to a wall portion;

controlling the vehicle and moving it in a direction of travel, to maintain a pre-adjusted distance to the wall portion

displacing the feed by means of a freely rotatable circular element rotating around an outer circumference of the vehicle.