INFERENTIAL LOAD TRACKING
First Claim
1. A method for identifying, locating and tracking assets within an operating facility comprising:
- providing an initial identification and location of an asset from a host;
conveying the asset on an automated asset conveying device to a location while tracking the position of the asset;
communicating the identity and location of the asset from the host to a tracking system, the tracking system comprising a system controller and one or more conveying vehicles, each conveying vehicle having a mobile computer, an optical navigation system for sensing vehicle position and rotational orientation within the facility, a load handling mechanism comprising a lift mechanism having a lift height sensor, an asset holding device for holding the asset in a known position relative to the conveying vehicle, and a load detection sensor;
receiving, by the mobile computer on a first conveying vehicle, an initial identification and an initial location of an asset from the host;
acquiring the asset by the first conveying vehicle;
the first conveying vehicle navigating the facility by repeatedly determining the position of the center of the first conveying vehicle and the rotational orientation of the directional axis of the first conveying vehicle;
the first conveying vehicle transporting the asset to a second location;
the first conveying vehicle depositing the asset at the second location, and communicating the identity, location and rotational orientation of the asset to the system controller; and
communicating the identity, using the system controller, the position and rotational orientation of the asset to a host.
7 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and apparatus for tracking the location of one or more unit loads in a coordinate space in a facility, comprising an integrated system that identifies a load by communicating with a host computer, determines the position of the load in the coordinate space, and stores the position and load identity in a Load Map. A mobile subsystem on each conveying vehicle identifies the location and orientation of that vehicle using a position/orientation sensor, confirms acquisition of the load, and communicates the information to a fixed-base subsystem when the load is deposited on an automated conveying device. A conveyor controller tracks the load as it is conveyed on the automated conveying device and identifies the load to a subsequent conveying vehicle based upon its position on the conveying device. Loads that are not initially identified are assigned a pseudo-identification for tracking until they can be positively identified.
138 Citations
6 Claims
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1. A method for identifying, locating and tracking assets within an operating facility comprising:
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providing an initial identification and location of an asset from a host; conveying the asset on an automated asset conveying device to a location while tracking the position of the asset; communicating the identity and location of the asset from the host to a tracking system, the tracking system comprising a system controller and one or more conveying vehicles, each conveying vehicle having a mobile computer, an optical navigation system for sensing vehicle position and rotational orientation within the facility, a load handling mechanism comprising a lift mechanism having a lift height sensor, an asset holding device for holding the asset in a known position relative to the conveying vehicle, and a load detection sensor; receiving, by the mobile computer on a first conveying vehicle, an initial identification and an initial location of an asset from the host; acquiring the asset by the first conveying vehicle; the first conveying vehicle navigating the facility by repeatedly determining the position of the center of the first conveying vehicle and the rotational orientation of the directional axis of the first conveying vehicle; the first conveying vehicle transporting the asset to a second location; the first conveying vehicle depositing the asset at the second location, and communicating the identity, location and rotational orientation of the asset to the system controller; and communicating the identity, using the system controller, the position and rotational orientation of the asset to a host. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A method for locating and tracking assets within an operating facility comprising:
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detecting a LOAD ON event using a load detection sensor on a conveying vehicle at a position within a facility; querying the conveying vehicle operator to determine if the LOAD ON is valid; taking no action, if the LOAD ON is not valid; querying the Load Map, if the LOAD ON is valid, to determine if an asset is known at this position; determining the identity of the asset and clearing the Load Map for this identity, if an asset is known to be at this position; querying the host to determine if the Host has knowledge of an asset being at this position, if an asset is not known from the Load Map to be at this position; generating a pseudo number and assigning this number to identify the asset, if the Host does not have knowledge of an asset at this position; creating a Load Map entry for this asset identity including the asset pseudo-ID, position and rotational orientation; sending a message to the Host that an unknown load has been identified; querying the host to determine if this load has a valid ID or a pseudo ID, when a LOAD OFF event has occurred; replacing the Load pseudo-ID, position and orientation in the Load Map, if the load has a valid ID; querying the vehicle operator;
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Can a valid ID be established manually?”
, if the load has a pseudo ID;replacing the pseudo ID with the valid ID and replacing the Load ID, position and orientation in the Load Map, if a valid ID can be established; and sending a message to the system controller;
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Declare an unknown load event,”
if a valid ID cannot be established.
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Specification