Guidance system for an automated guided-vehicle
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A guidance system for guiding an AGV comprising:
- a plurality of noncontiguous rail segments;
a steering mechanism for guiding the AGV along said rail segments; and
, an electronic controller for guiding said AGV between said rail segments, the electronic controller directing the AGV from one rail segment to one of the other rail segments.
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Abstract
A guidance system for guiding an automated guided vehicle along a pathway is disclosed which includes rails for holding the AGV to the generally straight portions of the pathway and a non-rail guidance system for directing the AGV from the end of a first rail segment to the beginning of another. The rails provide the necessary level of control to allow an unmanned vehicle to move at high speeds while the non-rail guidance system eliminates the need for the rail switches that would otherwise be needed to shift a rail guided vehicle from one rail portion to another.
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Citations
29 Claims
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1. A guidance system for guiding an AGV comprising:
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a plurality of noncontiguous rail segments;
a steering mechanism for guiding the AGV along said rail segments; and
,an electronic controller for guiding said AGV between said rail segments, the electronic controller directing the AGV from one rail segment to one of the other rail segments. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method for switching an automatic rail-guided vehicle from a first rail section to either a second rail section or a third rail section, the method comprising the steps of:
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providing an off-rail navigation system; and
running said vehicle along said first rail section;
navigating said vehicle from said first rail section to either said second rail section or said third rail section using said off-rail navigation system; and
,running said vehicle along one of said second rail section or said third rail section. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
providing said first rail with a machine-readable informational marker; reading the information contained in said informational marker into said off-rail navigation system; and
,navigating said vehicle in accordance with the information communicated by said marker.
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15. The method of claim 13 wherein the step of running said vehicle along said first rail section includes the additional step of sensing the approach of an end of said first rail section.
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16. The method of claim 15 comprising the steps of determining the path to be followed between the end of said first rail section and a beginning of one of said second rail section and third rail section, calculating a safe speed for traveling between said end and said beginning.
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17. The method of claim 15 wherein the step of sensing the approach of the end of said first rail section comprises the step of determining whether said vehicle must execute a turn at said end.
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18. The method of claim 17 wherein said vehicle includes steering means for following said rail sections and wherein said steering means locks to keep said vehicle on a linear path when said vehicle is not required to execute a turn at said end.
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19. The method of claim 13 further comprising the step of providing at least one of the second and third rail segments with a flared guide at its entrance end.
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20. The method of claim 13 further comprising the step of providing the first rail segment with a first informational marker immediately downstream from its entrance end, a second informational marker near its exit end, and a third informational marker between the first and second informational markers.
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21. A guidance system for guiding an AGV comprising:
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first, second and third separate rail segments for guiding the AGV; and
,a controller for directing the AGV from the first rail segment to either one of the second and third rail segments. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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Specification