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Downward compatible AGV system and methods

  • US 5,341,130 A
  • Filed: 06/26/1992
  • Issued: 08/23/1994
  • Est. Priority Date: 12/03/1990
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A downwardly compatible automated guided vehicle system wherein automatic guided vehicles at different times traverse a plurality of types of guidepaths, said system comprising:

  • at least one guidepath marked only by a guidewire;

    at least one other guidepath marked only by widely dispersed update markers;

    at least one automated guided vehicle comprising means for navigating and guiding over the guidewire marked guidepath and for navigating and guiding over the guidepath marked only by update markers and which at different times traverses said at least one guidepath marked only by a guidewire and said at least one other guidepath of marked only by update markers of said plurality of guidepaths;

    central means for automatically planning and controlling activity of the at least one automated guided vehicle;

    means for sending and receiving two-way communications comprising the same type and rate of data presentation, independent of the type of guidepath traveled by the vehicle, between the central means and the at least one automated guided vehicle.

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