EP0261081A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for providing destination and vehicle function information to an automatic guided vehicle
Assignee: NDC Technologies Inc
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Filing: 1987-09-18
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2007-09-18
Abstract
Abstract A method for providing destination and vehicle function information to an AGV comprises the steps of providing one or more stationary dynamically codeable passage transducers (5) at predetermined spaced-apart points along an AGV path (220). The AGV path (220) is provided with a separate guidance wire (W1, W2, W3) or other guidance system. Each of the transducers (5) has a digital readable instruction set representing instructions to the vehicle. A transducer reader is provided on each AGV (200) for reading the instruction set of each transducer (5) as the AGV (200) proceeds along path 220 past the transducer (5) in reading relation. The instructions read are interfaced with the control system of the AGV (200) to provide a predetermined AGV (200) response. Additional steps in the method permit reprogramming of each transducer (5) by a reader/writer (129) on each AGV (200) to provide different instructions to a following AGV (200) and also a way of determining priority of movement between two converging AGVs (200).
Inventors
- 👤 Gunnar K. Lofgren
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 10:31
CPC Classifications
G; G05; G05D; G05D1/00; G05D1/02; G05D1/021; G05D1/0259; G05D1/0265; G05D1/0261
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
114 words
A method for providing destination and vehicle function information to an automatic guided vehicle (AGV), comprising the steps of: (a) providing one or more stationary dynamically codeable passive transducers at predetermined spaced-apart points along an AGV path, said AGV path having separate guidance means to be sensed and thereby followed by the AGV, each of the transducers having a digital readable instruction set representing instructions to the vehicle; (b) providing a transducer reader on each AGV for reading the instruction set of each transducer as the AGV proceeds along the path past the transducer in reading relation thereto; and (c) interfacing the instructions read with AGV control means to provide a predetermined AGV response.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
114 words
A method for providing destination and vehicle function information to an automatic guided vehicle (AGV), comprising the steps of: (a) providing one or more stationary dynamically codeable passive transducers at predetermined spaced-apart points along an AGV path, said AGV path having separate guidance means to be sensed and thereby followed by the AGV, each of the transducers having a digital readable instruction set representing instructions to the vehicle; (b) providing a transducer reader on each AGV for reading the instruction set of each transducer as the AGV proceeds along the path past the transducer in reading relation thereto; and (c) interfacing the instructions read with AGV control means to provide a predetermined AGV response.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
55 words
A method according to Claim 1 and including the additional steps of: (d) providing a transducer programmer on the AGV; (e) the programmer erasing the instruction set in a transducer after being read by the reader; and (f) the programmer writing a new instruction set into the transducer for being read by a following AGV.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method according to Claim 1 or 2 wherein the instruction set contains destination information.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method according to Claim 1 or 2 wherein the instruction set contains stop/start and vehicle speed information.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method according to Claim 1 or 2 wherein the instruction set contains switching information for instructing an AGV to guide on one of two or more path branches.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
41 words
A method according to Claim 1 or 2 wherein the instruction set contains vehicle priority information for instructing one of two or more AGVs on different path branches to stop to allow the other AGV having a predetermined priority to proceed.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
155 words
A method for providing destination and vehicle function information to an automatic guided vehicle (AGV) comprising the steps of: (a) providing one or more stationary dynamic code means at predetermined space-apart points along an AGV path, said AGV path having separate guidance means to be sensed and thereby followed by the AGV, each of the coding means coded with destination, switching or vehicle function information; (b) providing a coding means reader on each AGV for reading the information of each code means as the AGV proceeds along the path past the code means; (c) interfacing the information read by the code means with AGV control means to provide a predetermined AGV response; (d) providing a code means programmer on each AGV; (e) the programmer erasing the information in the code means after being read by the reader; and (f) the programmer coding new information into the code means for being read by a following AGV.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
155 words
A method for providing destination and vehicle function information to an automatic guided vehicle (AGV) comprising the steps of: (a) providing one or more stationary dynamic code means at predetermined space-apart points along an AGV path, said AGV path having separate guidance means to be sensed and thereby followed by the AGV, each of the coding means coded with destination, switching or vehicle function information; (b) providing a coding means reader on each AGV for reading the information of each code means as the AGV proceeds along the path past the code means; (c) interfacing the information read by the code means with AGV control means to provide a predetermined AGV response; (d) providing a code means programmer on each AGV; (e) the programmer erasing the information in the code means after being read by the reader; and (f) the programmer coding new information into the code means for being read by a following AGV.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
133 words
An automatic guided vehicle (AGV) comprising: (a) an AGV chassis with motive means thereon; (b) guidance means for guiding along an AGV path by means of interactive path sensing and servo-correction; (c) code reading means for reading information contained in a stationary dynamic code means positioned at predetermined spaced-apart points along the AGV path, each dynamic coding means coded with destination, switching or vehicle function information; (d) interfacing means between the motive means of said AGV and said code reading means for providing a predetermined AGV response to the information read by the code reading means; (e) a dynamic code means programmer for erasing the information in the code means after being read by the code reading means and reprogramming said code reading means with information for being read by a following AGV.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
133 words
An automatic guided vehicle (AGV) comprising: (a) an AGV chassis with motive means thereon; (b) guidance means for guiding along an AGV path by means of interactive path sensing and servo-correction; (c) code reading means for reading information contained in a stationary dynamic code means positioned at predetermined spaced-apart points along the AGV path, each dynamic coding means coded with destination, switching or vehicle function information; (d) interfacing means between the motive means of said AGV and said code reading means for providing a predetermined AGV response to the information read by the code reading means; (e) a dynamic code means programmer for erasing the information in the code means after being read by the code reading means and reprogramming said code reading means with information for being read by a following AGV.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
98 words
An automatic guided vehicle (AGV) comprising: (a) an AGV chassis with motive means thereon; (b) guidance means for guiding along an AGV path by means of interactive path sensing and servo-correction; (c) a transducer reader for reading a digital instruction set of one or more stationary dynamically codeable passive transducers positioned at predetermined, spaced-apart point along the AGV path, said instruction set comprising destination, switching or vehicle function instructions; and (d) interfacing means between the motive means of said AGV and said transducer reader for providing a predetermined AGV response to the information read by the transducer reader.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
98 words
An automatic guided vehicle (AGV) comprising: (a) an AGV chassis with motive means thereon; (b) guidance means for guiding along an AGV path by means of interactive path sensing and servo-correction; (c) a transducer reader for reading a digital instruction set of one or more stationary dynamically codeable passive transducers positioned at predetermined, spaced-apart point along the AGV path, said instruction set comprising destination, switching or vehicle function instructions; and (d) interfacing means between the motive means of said AGV and said transducer reader for providing a predetermined AGV response to the information read by the transducer reader.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
40 words
An automatic guided vehicle according to Claim 9 and including: (e) a transducer programmer for erasing the information in the transducer after being read by the transducer programmer and reprogramming said transducer with information being read by a following AGV.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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