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Automated vehicle control

  • US 4,979,113 A
  • Filed: 05/02/1989
  • Issued: 12/18/1990
  • Est. Priority Date: 05/13/1988
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A method of operating a vehicle guidance system which includes computer means for generating signals to control a plurality of vehicles to execute movements over a floor within a predetermined area, the method comprising the steps of:

  • entering into said computer means data identifying locations of notional points on the floor of said area;

    entering into said computer means a look-up table which specifies a plurality of pairs of said points for each of said pairs a vehicle movement will be required between one point and the other point of said pair, and said look-up table also specifies, for each said required vehicle movement, other pairs of said plurality of pairs of points which define vehicle movements which must be considered as potentially resulting in collision with a vehicle making said required movement;

    generating a signal for requesting movement of a first vehicle between a first said pair of points; and

    , when said movement of said first vehicle is requested, said computer means determining from said table which potential collision movements must be considered, and determining whether any vehicle is carrying out any of said potential collision movements and, if so, inhibiting said requested movement of said first vehicle and, if not, initiating said requested movement of said first vehicle.

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