Method and system for guiding and positioning a self-propelled vehicle with sequential barcodes

• US 7,050,891 B2
• Filed: 06/15/2004
• Issued: 05/23/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Institute For Information Industry
• Original Assignee: Institute For Information Industry
• Inventors: Chen, You-Shih
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Dalena
• Application Number:
  US10/866,775
• Publication Number:
  US 20050222722A1
• Time in Patent Office: 707 Days
• Field of Search: 701/23, 701/26, 701/69, 701/210, 180/167, 180/168, 180/169, 318/567, 318/568.12, 318/587, 318/580
• US Class Current: 701/23
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/02 vehicle-mounted
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/283 for unmanned vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0225 involving docking at a fixed facility, e.g. base station or loading bay parking aids B62D15/027
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0236 in combination with a laser lasers per se H01S

Abstract

A method andsystem for guiding and positioning a self-propelled vehicle with sequential barcodes has a self-propelled vehicle capable of moving on the strip holder according to the recorded barcode serial numbers on the strip holder. Furthermore, due to the barcode serial number is sequential and the gaps between the barcodes are the same, the self-propelled vehicle can calculate its velocity, distance of travel and a distance to a target location according to the barcode serial numbers. Moreover, the self-propelled vehicle can select different important positioning points.

Claims

1. A method for guiding and positioning a self-propelled vehicle with sequential barcode, comprising:

(A) planning a route for the self-propelled vehicle and arranging a strip holder on the route;

(B) placing barcodes on the strip holder;

wherein every barcode presents a serial number and the barcodes placed on continuous straight strip holder sections without branches are numbered continuously;

(C) enabling a self-propelled vehicle to move on the strip holder, read the barcodes placed on the strip holder, and record the barcode serial numbers; and

(D) enabling the self-propelled vehicle to move on the strip holder, read a barcode placed on the strip holder at a current position, and controlling the self-propelled vehicle according to the recorded barcode serial numbers, wherein the self-propelled vehicle calculates a travel distance by calculating G×

(B2−

B1), according to the recorded barcode serial numbers, where B1 is a previously passed barcode serial number, B2 is a current barcode serial number, and G is a gap between two continuous barcode serial numbers.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein in step (D), the self-propelled vehicle obtains a current position by reading the barcode serial number.

3. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein step (A) further comprises planning a plurality of important points on the route, and upon reading the barcode serial numbers at the important points the self-propelled vehicle enhances its duty.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein in step (B), the barcode serial numbers placed on discontinuous sections of strip holder are discontinuously numbered.

5. A method for guiding and positioning a self-propelled vehicle with sequential barcode, comprising:

(A) planning a route for the self-propelled vehicle and arranging a strip holder on the route;

(B) placing barcodes on the strip holder;

wherein every barcode presents a serial number and the barcodes placed on continuous straight strip holder sections without branches are numbered continuously;

(C) enabling a self-propelled vehicle to move on the strip holder, read the barcodes placed on the strip holder, and record the barcode serial numbers; and

(D) enabling the self-propelled vehicle to move on the strip holder, read a barcode placed on the strip holder at a current position, and controlling the self-propelled vehicle according to the recorded barcode serial numbers, where the self-propelled vehicle predicts a distance to a target position by;

G×

(B3−

B2), according to the recorded barcode serial numbers, wherein B2 is a current barcode serial number, B3 is a barcode serial number of the target position, and G is a gap between two continuous barcode serial numbers.

6. The method as claimed in claim 5, wherein in step (D), the self-propelled vehicle obtains a current position by reading the barcode serial numbers.

7. The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein step (A) further comprises planning a plurality of important points on the route, and upon reading the barcode serial numbers at the important points the self-propelled vehicle enhances its duty.

8. The method as claimed in claim 5, wherein in step (B), the barcode serial numbers placed on discontinuous sections of strip holder are discontinuously numbered.

9. A method for guiding and positioning a self-propelled vehicle with sequential barcode, comprising:

(A) planning a route for the self-propelled vehicle and arranging a strip holder on the route;

(B) placing barcodes on the strip holder;

wherein every barcode presents a serial number and the barcodes placed on continuous straight strip holder sections without branches are numbered continuously;

(C) enabling a self-propelled vehicle to move on the strip holder, read the barcodes placed on the strip holder, and record the barcode serial numbers; and

(D) enabling the self-propelled vehicle to move on the strip holder, read a barcode placed on the strip holder at a current position, and controlling the self-propelled vehicle according to the recorded barcode serial numbers, where the self-propelled vehicle calculates a velocity by calculating V=Δ

D/Δ

T, according to the recorded barcode serial numbers, wherein Δ

T=T2−

T1, Δ

D=G×

(B2−

B1), B1 and B2 are barcode serial numbers respectively recorded at times T1 and T2, and G is a gap between two continuous barcode serial numbers.

10. The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein in step (D), the self-propelled vehicle obtains a current position by reading the barcode serial numbers.

11. The method as claimed in claim 10, wherein step (A) further comprises planning a plurality of important points on the route, and upon reading the barcode serial numbers at the important points the self-propelled vehicle enhances its duty.

12. The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein in step (B), the barcode serial numbers placed on discontinuous sections of strip holder are discontinuously numbered.