Zero visibility surface traffic control system
First Claim
1. A system for simultaneously guiding and controlling the travel of a plurality of self-propelled vehicles over respective, prescribed travel routes within a network of one or more predetermined paths of travel comprising:
- (a) guide means, positioned along each network path and along each turn, if any, leading from one network path onto another network path, for emitting signals to guide vehicles along said each network path and said each turn, respectively;
(b) a plurality of locomotion control means, each disposed at a point in the network at which the locomotion of approaching vehicles may need to be controlled, for emitting signals to control said locomotion;
(c) a system supervisor comprising means for selectively causing each of said plurality of locomotion control means to emit at least one locomotion control signal; and
(d) a system interface hosted by each vehicle being guided and controlled comprising;
(i) means for pre-storing an itinerary pertaining to the host vehicle, each itinerary comprising an ordered set of identifiers each of which corresponds to the signal emitted along a network path or a network turn in a travel route prescribed by said each itinerary, the order of the set indicating the order of network paths and turns, if any, in said travel route,(ii) means for indicating for each itinerary the set of identifiers contained therein and the order of the set,(iii) means, responsive to the signals emitted by said guide means, for indicating the position of the host vehicle relative to a center of a network path or turn upon which the vehicle is disposed, and(iv) means, responsive to said at least one locomotion control signal, for producing a corresponding indication.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Guide elements along paths and turns of a network emit guide signals for guiding vehicles along the paths and through the turns. Control elements, located at points in the network at which the locomotion of approaching vehicles may need to be controlled, emit control signals, such as "stop" and "start" signals. The signals are preferably various modulated and unmodulated sine waves having frequencies programmable by a system supervisor that sends itineraries to vehicles prescribing their respective travel routes, each itinerary containing at least a set of identifiers uniquely corresponding to the signals emitted along the paths and turns in a travel route. The order of the set indicates the order of paths and turns to be taken while travelling a route. A system interface, hosted by each vehicle, acquires itineraries pertaining to its host vehicle and provides path/turn information to a vehicle driver--a person or an apparatus. The interface also determines magnitude and direction of any vehicle deviation from a guide element the interface is monitoring and reports same to the driver; recognizes and reports control signals to the driver; and detects transition points at which its host vehicle should go from one path/turn to another path/turn and indicates any needed course corrections to the driver. Sensors along paths and turns detect the proximity of a vehicle or such to it and report same to the supervisor. Optionally vehicles send their respective identification codes to the supervisor via each sensor they encounter.
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Citations
31 Claims
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1. A system for simultaneously guiding and controlling the travel of a plurality of self-propelled vehicles over respective, prescribed travel routes within a network of one or more predetermined paths of travel comprising:
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(a) guide means, positioned along each network path and along each turn, if any, leading from one network path onto another network path, for emitting signals to guide vehicles along said each network path and said each turn, respectively; (b) a plurality of locomotion control means, each disposed at a point in the network at which the locomotion of approaching vehicles may need to be controlled, for emitting signals to control said locomotion; (c) a system supervisor comprising means for selectively causing each of said plurality of locomotion control means to emit at least one locomotion control signal; and (d) a system interface hosted by each vehicle being guided and controlled comprising; (i) means for pre-storing an itinerary pertaining to the host vehicle, each itinerary comprising an ordered set of identifiers each of which corresponds to the signal emitted along a network path or a network turn in a travel route prescribed by said each itinerary, the order of the set indicating the order of network paths and turns, if any, in said travel route, (ii) means for indicating for each itinerary the set of identifiers contained therein and the order of the set, (iii) means, responsive to the signals emitted by said guide means, for indicating the position of the host vehicle relative to a center of a network path or turn upon which the vehicle is disposed, and (iv) means, responsive to said at least one locomotion control signal, for producing a corresponding indication. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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Specification