VARIABLE OFFSET POSITIONING ANTENNA ARRAY FOR ENHANCED GUIDANCE OF AUTOMATED GUIDED VEHICLES (AGVS)

• US 20130311030A1
• Filed: 07/23/2013
• Published: 11/21/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/17/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Volley Automation, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Boomerang Systems Incorporated
• Inventors: Barwick, Stott, Swasey, Merin, Beeny, Lance, Petersen, John A.M.
• Granted Patent: US 9,063,550 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/23
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 17/30 the ultimate propulsive elements, e.g. ground wheels, being steerable
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 5/0418 Electric motor acting on road wheel carriers
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 7/026 characterised by comprising more than one bogie, e.g. situated in more than one plane transversal to the longitudinal centre line of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 6/00 Buildings for parking cars, rolling-stock, aircraft, vessels or like vehicles, e.g. garages
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 6/183 without transverse movement of the car after leaving the transfer means
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 6/245 without transverse movement of the wheeled parking platform after leaving the transfer means
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 6/305 using car-gripping transfer means
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 6/36 characterised by use of freely-movable dollies
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0265 using buried wires
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0297 by controlling means in a control room
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

An automated guided vehicle (AGV) adapted to follow a guide wire or the like, the AGV comprising at least one antenna in communication with a master control system and having a programmable microprocessor that enables the AGV to dynamically assume a linear, angular or skewed offset position relative to the guide wire or the like in accordance with instructions provided by the control system.

Claims

1. An automated guided vehicle (AGV) adapted to follow a guide wire or the like, the AGV comprising at least one antenna in communication with a master control system and having a programmable microprocessor that enables the AGV to dynamically assume a linear, angular or skewed offset position relative to the guide wire or the like in accordance with instructions provided by the control system.

2. The automated guided vehicle of claim 1, further adapted to travel in a diagonal orientation relative to a plurality of parallel and perpendicular guide wires arranged in an X-axis and Y-axis orientation respectively.

3. The automated guided vehicle of claim 1, her comprising a plurality of omni-directional drive and steering systems.

4. An automated storage system for storing a plurality of objects in storage locations, the automated storage system comprising a master control computer, a guide wire network, and a plurality of automated guided vehicles (AGVs) each having an onboard microprocessor and a receiver for receiving control commands from the master control computer, wherein each AGV can dynamically assume an offset position relative to the guide wire network in accordance with instructions provided by the master control computer.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the storage locations are determined based on a dimensional analysis of the objects.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein the storage locations are variably defined and populated based on a dimensional analysis of the objects.

7. The system of claim 4, wherein the plurality of AGVs are adapted to simultaneously acquire and move multiple objects at a time.

8. The system of claim 4, further comprising the use of trays for the transport and storing of objects.

9. An automated storage system for storing a plurality of storage lockers in storage locations, the automated storage system comprising a master control computer, a guidance network such as a guide wire network, a plurality of storage lockers, and a plurality of automated guided vehicles (AGVs) each having an onboard microprocessor and a receiver for receiving control commands from the master control computer, wherein each AGV can deliver a storage locker from a loading location to a storage location and dynamically assume an offset position relative to the guide wire network during transport of the storage locker.