Optical laser guidance system and method
First Claim
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1. A method of guiding a vehicle, comprising the steps of:
- determining a sequence of directions in which to sequentially point a laser beam to delineate a curvilinear guidepath;
sequentially projecting the laser beam in the sequence of directions to delineate the curvilinear guidepath;
sensing a position where the laser beam strikes a laser sensor;
receiving a signal from the laser sensor, the signal being representative of the position where the laser beam strikes the laser sensor;
interpreting the signal;
generating a control signal in response to the position where the laser beam strikes the laser sensor being greater than a predetermined distance from a predetermined reference position relative to the laser sensor, the control signal being configured to control the vehicle to track the position of the laser beam; and
sending the control signal to a drive actuator.
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Abstract
A method of guiding a vehicle comprises sensing a position of a laser beam using a laser sensor and receiving a signal from the laser sensor wherein the signal is representative of the position of the laser beam. The method further includes interpreting the signal, generating a control signal in response to the laser beam being greater than a predetermined distance from a predetermined reference position and wherein the control signal is configured to control the vehicle to track the position of the laser beam. The method additionally comprises sending the control signal to a drive actuator.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method of guiding a vehicle, comprising the steps of:
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determining a sequence of directions in which to sequentially point a laser beam to delineate a curvilinear guidepath; sequentially projecting the laser beam in the sequence of directions to delineate the curvilinear guidepath; sensing a position where the laser beam strikes a laser sensor; receiving a signal from the laser sensor, the signal being representative of the position where the laser beam strikes the laser sensor; interpreting the signal; generating a control signal in response to the position where the laser beam strikes the laser sensor being greater than a predetermined distance from a predetermined reference position relative to the laser sensor, the control signal being configured to control the vehicle to track the position of the laser beam; and sending the control signal to a drive actuator. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method for creating a curvilinear guidepath for a vehicle having an end-effector, comprising the steps of:
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determining a sequence of directions in which sequentially to point a laser beam to delineate the curvilinear guidepath; generating a control signal for sequentially pointing a laser source in the sequence of directions, the laser source being remote from the vehicle; sending the control signal to the laser source; projecting the laser beam sequentially in the sequence of directions so as to delineate the curvilinear guidepath; sensing a position of the laser beam at a laser sensor mounted on the vehicle; receiving a signal from the laser sensor, the signal being representative of the position of the laser beam relative to the laser sensor; and generating a control signal in response to the laser beam being located greater than a predetermined distance from a predetermined reference position relative to the laser sensor, the control signal being configured to control the vehicle to track the position of the laser beam. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification