Method and apparatus for guiding a driverless vehicle using a sensor tracking a cable emitting an electromagnetic field
First Claim
1. An apparatus for guiding a driverless vehicle along a path defined by a guide cable disposed in a horizontal road surface, said guide cable carrying a current thereby generating an electromagnetic field in the space surrounding the guide cable, said apparatus comprising:
- sensor means for sensing the direction and magnitude of the electromagnetic field;
said sensor means including first and second detecting coils mounted in an X-coil configuration on said vehicle in spaced longitudinal alignment such that major axes of said coils intersect at a point centrally of the coils as viewed in a longitudinal direction of travel of said vehicle, and said major axes are oriented generally at ±
45 degrees relative to said road surface;
each detecting coil sensing both the radial and circular field vectors of said magnetic field; and
comparing means in communication with said first and second detecting coils for comparing the magnitude of the radial vector with the magnitude of the circular vector whereby the lateral position of said sensor means relative to said guide cable is determined.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for guiding a driverless vehicle along a path defined by a guide cable carrying a current in a horizontal road surface includes mounting a first coil, having a major coil axis, at +45 degrees relative to the horizontal on said vehicle, mounting a second coil, having a major coil axis, at -45 degrees relative to the horizontal on said vehicle such that the axes of said first and second coils intersect, sensing both the radial and circular field vectors of the electromagnetic field with each coil, comparing the magnitude of the radial vector with the magnitude of the circular vector for each coil whereby the lateral position of the intersection point of the axes of the coils is determined relative to the guide cable to indicate the lateral displacement of the vehicle relative to said path, and using the displacement information in the vehicle steering system.
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Citations
11 Claims
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1. An apparatus for guiding a driverless vehicle along a path defined by a guide cable disposed in a horizontal road surface, said guide cable carrying a current thereby generating an electromagnetic field in the space surrounding the guide cable, said apparatus comprising:
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sensor means for sensing the direction and magnitude of the electromagnetic field; said sensor means including first and second detecting coils mounted in an X-coil configuration on said vehicle in spaced longitudinal alignment such that major axes of said coils intersect at a point centrally of the coils as viewed in a longitudinal direction of travel of said vehicle, and said major axes are oriented generally at ±
45 degrees relative to said road surface;each detecting coil sensing both the radial and circular field vectors of said magnetic field; and comparing means in communication with said first and second detecting coils for comparing the magnitude of the radial vector with the magnitude of the circular vector whereby the lateral position of said sensor means relative to said guide cable is determined. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method for guiding a driverless vehicle along a path defined by a guide cable disposed in a horizontal road surface, said guide cable carrying a current, thereby generating an electromagnetic field in the space surrounding the guide cable, said method comprising the steps of:
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mounting a first coil, having a major coil axis, at +45 degrees relative to the horizontal on said vehicle; mounting a second coil, having a major coil axis, at -45 degrees relative to the horizontal on said vehicle such that said axes of said first and second coils intersect centrally of the coils as viewed in a longitudinal direction; sensing both the radial and circular field vectors of the electromagnetic field with each coil; and comparing the magnitude of the radial vector with the magnitude of the circular vector for each coil whereby the lateral position of the intersection point of the axes of said coils is determined relative to the guide cable to indicate the lateral displacement of said vehicle relative to said path. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11)
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Specification