Automatic control system for vehicles

• US 3,245,493 A
• Filed: 03/26/1964
• Issued: 04/12/1966
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/1964
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Arthur M. Barrett Jr
• Original Assignee: Arthur M. Barrett Jr
• Inventors: Barrett, Arthur M. Jr.
• Application Number:
  US04/354,948
• Time in Patent Office: 747 Days
• US Class Current: 180/168
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0265 using buried wires

Claims

1. IN A GUIDANCE SYSTEM, A TRAFFIC LAYOUT INCLUDING PATH DEFINING MEANS FOR DEFINING A PLURALITY OF GUIDE PATHS WHICH EXTEND BETWEEN A PLURALITY OF STATIONS AND AT LEAST ONE DECISION POINT IN SAID TRAFFIC LAYOUT AT WHICH A PLURALITY OF PATHS DIVERGE FROM EACH OTHER, LOCATION-IDENTIFICATION MEANS FOR PROVIDING A UNIQUE CODE FOR SAID DECISION POINT AND EACH OF SAID STATIONS, AT LEAST ONE MOBILE UNIT INCLUDING STEERING MEANS, PATH SENSOR MEANS FOR SENSING SAID GUIDE PATHS, AND STEERING CONTROL MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID PATH SENSOR MEANS FOR CONTROLLING SAID STEERING MEANS TO FOLLOW SAID GUIDE PATHS, PROGRAM MEANS INCLUDING SELECTION MEANS FOR SELECTING A STATION DESTINATION, MEANS FOR RECEIVING POINT, COMPARSION MEANS FOR STATION AND SAID DECISION POINT, COMPARSION MEANS FOR COMPARING SAID STATION DESTINATION WITH THE VEHICLE LOCATION INDICATED BY THE RECEIVED CODE SIGNAL INCLUDING MEANS FOR DETERMINING THE PREFERRED ROUTE FROM SAID DESICION POINT TO THE SELECTED STATION, AND AUXILIARY STEERING CONTROL MEANS TO SAID VEHICLE SELECTIVELY OPERATED BY PROGRAM MEANS INCLUDING MEANS EFFECTIVE WITH EACH OPERATION OF SAID AUXILIARY CONTROL MEANS TO CONTROL SAID STEERING MEANS TO STEER ONLY A LINEAR COURSE FROM SAID DECISION POINT INDEPENDENT OF ANY PATH DEFINING MEANS LOCATED THEREAT.