Method for controlling an automatic guided vehicle system

• US 6,654,647 B1
• Filed: 09/11/2000
• Issued: 11/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/04/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Kal, Myung-joon
• Primary Examiner(s): Khatri, Anil
• Assistant Examiner(s): Shute, Douglas M.
• Application Number:
  US09/659,569
• Time in Patent Office: 1,170 Days
• Field of Search: 700/9, 700/113, 700/19-20, 710/52, 180/167-169, 318/587, 701/1-4, 701/11, 701/23-28, 901/1
• US Class Current: 700/9
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0282 generated in a local control room

Abstract

A method for controlling an automatic guided vehicle system having an automatic guided vehicle and a central controller for controlling the automatic guided vehicle is capable of operating with improved operational efficiency. The control method includes the steps of: transmitting of an IMMEDIATE command by the central controller to the automatic guided vehicle; checking by the central controller as to whether the automatic guided vehicle, which is performing the IMMEDIATE command, can receive a NEXT command; transmitting of the NEXT command by the central controller to the automatic guided vehicle; continuous receiving, analyzing, and storing of the NEXT command by the automatic guided vehicle while the automatic guided vehicle receives and performs the IMMEDIATE command; and sequentially performing NEXT commands stored in the automatic guided vehicle after completion of the IMMEDIATE command.

Claims

1. A method for controlling an automatic guided vehicle system including a plurality of automatic guided vehicles and a central controller for controlling the automatic guided vehicles, the control method comprising the steps of:

(a) transmitting an IMMEDIATE command from the central controller to the automatic guided vehicle;

(b) checking by the central controller whether the automatic guided vehicle, which is performing the IMMEDIATE command, can receive a NEXT command;

(c) transmitting the NEXT command from the central controller to the automatic guided vehicle when it is determined in step (b) that the automatic guided vehicle can receive the NEXT command;

(d) continuously receiving, analyzing and storing, at the automatic guided vehicle, the NEXT command while the automatic guided vehicle receives and performs the IMMEDIATE command; and

(e) sequentially performing the NEXT command stored in the automatic guided vehicle after completion of the IMMEDIATE command.

2. The control method of claim 1, further comprising the step, prior to step (b), of:

checking by the central controller whether there is a NEXT command to send out to the automatic guided vehicle.

3. The control method of claim 1, wherein step (d) comprises the steps of:

converting the NEXT command into an execution command at the automatic guided vehicle; and

storing the converted NEXT command at the automatic guided vehicle into a buffer of the automatic guided vehicle.

4. A method for controlling an automatic guided vehicle system including a plurality of automatic guided vehicles and a central controller for controlling the automatic guided vehicles, the control method comprising the steps of:

(a) transmitting an IMMEDIATE command from the central controller to the automatic guided vehicle;

(b) checking at the central controller whether there is a NEXT command to send out to the automatic guided vehicle;

(c) when it is determined in step (b) that there is a NEXT command to send out to the automatic guided vehicle, checking at the central controller whether the automatic guided vehicle, which is performing the IMMEDIATE command, can receive the NEXT command; and

(d) transmitting the NEXT command from the central controller to the automatic guided vehicle when it is determined in step (c) that the automatic guided vehicle can receive the NEXT command.

5. The control method of claim 4, further comprising continuously receiving, analyzing and storing, at the automatic guided vehicle, the NEXT command while the automatic guided vehicle receives and performs the IMMEDIATE command.

6. The control method of claim 5, further comprising sequentially performing the NEXT command stored in the automatic guided vehicle after completion of the IMMEDIATE command.

7. The control method of claim 5, wherein the NEXT command received at the automatic guided vehicle from the central controller is converted into an execution command at the automatic guided vehicle, and the converted NEXT command is stored at the automatic guided vehicle into a buffer of the automatic guided vehicle.

8. A method for controlling an automatic guided vehicle system including a plurality of automatic guided vehicles and a central controller for controlling the automatic guided vehicles, the control method comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving a command from the central controller at the automatic guided vehicle;

(b) checking at the automatic guided vehicle whether the received command is a NEXT command;

(c) when the received command is not a NEXT command, performing a previously received IMMEDIATE command at the automatic guided vehicle;

(d) when the received command is the NEXT command, analyzing and converting the NEXT command into an execution command at the automatic guided vehicle; and

(e) storing the analyzed and converted NEXT command in a buffer in the automatic guided vehicle.

9. The control method of claim 8, further comprising the step, after step (c), of:

(c1) after performance of the IMMEDIATE command, determining whether a NEXT command is stored in the buffer; and

(c2) when the NEXT command is stored in the buffer, performing the NEXT command.