ELECTRONIC CONTROL AND GUIDANCE SYSTEM FOR VEHICLES

• US 3,563,327 A
• Filed: 11/20/1968
• Issued: 02/16/1971
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/1968
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: David Mier
• Original Assignee: David Mier
• Inventors: Mier, David
• Application Number:
  US04/777,243
• Time in Patent Office: 818 Days
• US Class Current: 180/169
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0265 using buried wires

Abstract

A vehicle control and guidance system for steering a vehicle along a predetermined path in response to signals picked up from a path defining conductor. The vehicle is driven by two independent electric motor driven wheels located on opposite sides of the vehicle. Each motor is controlled from a signal sensor on the opposite side of the vehicle from the motor being controlled so that a relatively strong signal from one sensor will increase the speed of the motor on the opposite side of the vehicle. The control link between a sensor and its corresponding motor is provided by a triac fired by a signal controlled variable time constant circuit.

Claims

1. A vehicle subject to guidance and control by an external signal and an electronic control system therefor, said vehicle having a first drive wheel adjacent one end and spaced from one side, a second drive wheel spaced laterally of said vehicle from said first drive wheel to be nearer said other vehicle side, a castorlike wheel adjacent the opposite vehicle end, an electric motor means for each drive wheel, means operative to drive each wheel from its respective motor means, a first signal sensor adjacent one end of said vehicle and spaced from said one side thereof, a first electronic signal responsive means interconnecting said first sensor with said second motor means, a second signal sensor spaced from said other side of said vehicle opposite said first signal sensor, and a second electronic signal responsive means interconnecting said second sensor with said first motor means, each of said electronic signal responsive means comprising a phase shift voltage control circuit responsive to a signal received from its respective signal sensor.

2. A vehicle as in claim 1, in which each of said electronic signal responsive means includes a triac responsive to said phase shift voltage control.

3. A vehicle as in claim 2, in which signals from said sensors are amplified by a solid-state amplifier which together with said triacs constitutes a system operative under the sole control of solid-state electronic devices.

4. A vehicle subject to guidance and control by an external signal and an electronic control system therefor, said vehicle having a series of supporting wheels including first and second drive wheels spaced laterally of each other, an individual electric motor means for each drive wheel, means operative to drive each wheel from its respective motor means, first and second signal sensors spaced laterally from each other, a first electronic signal-responsive means interconnecting the first sensor with one of said motor means, and a second electronic signal-responsive means interconnecting the second sensor with the other motor means, each of said signal-responsive means comprising a phase shift control circuit responsive to a signal received from its respective signal sensor.