Automated storage system and transport vehicle

• US 8,983,649 B2
• Filed: 01/15/2010
• Issued: 03/17/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Volley Automation, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Boomerang Systems Incorporated
• Inventors: Checketts, Stanley J., Barwick, Stott, Swasey, Merin
• Primary Examiner(s): CUMBESS, YOLANDA RENEE
• Application Number:
  US12/688,813
• Publication Number:
  US 20100183409A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,887 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 700/228
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 17/30 the ultimate propulsive elements, e.g. ground wheels, being steerable
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 5/0418 Electric motor acting on road wheel carriers
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 7/026 characterised by comprising more than one bogie, e.g. situated in more than one plane transversal to the longitudinal centre line of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 6/00 Buildings for parking cars, rolling-stock, aircraft, vessels or like vehicles, e.g. garages
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 6/183 without transverse movement of the car after leaving the transfer means
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 6/245 without transverse movement of the wheeled parking platform after leaving the transfer means
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 6/305 using car-gripping transfer means
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 6/36 characterised by use of freely-movable dollies
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0265 using buried wires
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0297 by controlling means in a control room
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

An automated storage system for vehicles or the like is provided with a guidance system that interacts with a remote-controlled transport system that transports a vehicle between an access location, such a drive-up location, and a storage location. More particularly, in one embodiment, an omni-directional, battery-powered, wirelessly-controlled, transport system or so-called automated guided vehicle (“AGV”) is designed to follow magnetic field generating wires and RFID chips on the floors of the parking facility to move forward, backward and side to side underneath cars that are parked on a flat surface. In one embodiment, the AGV automatically contracts and expands its body to slide its arms under the wheelbase of a car, lift the car, and roll with speed and precision in any direction on to a waiting lift, that will then raise and lower the AGV and its automobile payload toward its ultimate destination.

Claims

1. A storage system comprising:

at least one transport vehicle having a plurality of sensors;

a grid of guide strips installed in a floor for the transport vehicle to align its path by sensing the position of a guide strip relative to the transport vehicle, wherein a radio frequency identification (RFID) circuit is installed in an intersection of two guide strips on the grid of guide strips;

a computing device for generating signals to control the movement of the transport vehicle; and

a radio modem for receiving radio signals generated by the RFID circuits and the sensors and for modulating data signals generated by a computing device into radio signals and transmitting the radio signals to the transport vehicle.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the computing device computes a path for moving the transport vehicle from the access location to the parking location and from the parking location to the access location based on a current location of the transport vehicle.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the current location of the transport vehicle is determined by the RFID circuit and the sensors.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the sensors keep the transport vehicle aligned along a path by sensing the position of a guide strip in the grid in relation to a center of the transport vehicle.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein each of the guide strips is either a RF wire or magnetic strip.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein a user can access the computing device with at least one of:

graphical user interface, an interactive voice response interface, a web browser, or a cell phone.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein an automobile is mounted on the transport vehicle and is positionable both parallel and perpendicular to an approach direction, or both parallel and perpendicular to the direction that said automobile was brought up in a lift within the storage facility.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the payload or automobile can be stored at angles other than parallel or perpendicular to the direction raised on the lift, including along a curved interior space.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the transport vehicle is movable in any direction.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the transport vehicle can enter and exit from a lift within the storage facility with its payload from any side of the lift.