Abstract:
A method and a system for controlling an AGV for route selection upon transfer between different spaces within which the AGV is movable. The spaces are not fixedly related to each other with reference to their relative positions and are restricted from each other by the inclusion of area boarder lines. When an AGV is present within a first of the spaces, it detects for the purpose of transfer of the spaces, the relative position of the space by two reference instruments belonging to the second space. Each of the reference instruments is fixedly related to the present space. The AGV will move over the area border lines between the two spaces selecting route depending on calculating relative position.
Abstract:
A surface detection system for airport facilities is described wherein a plurality of infrared (IR) scanners as well as presence/absence detectors are located with respect to taxiways and runways of an airport complex. These devices are arranged to perform in conjunction with local processors to generate data from aircraft and ground based vehicles available from a bar coding identification of both forms of vehicles. These data are utilized to compute alert conditions as well as to develop a real time map of the airport which may be provided at a tower installation for air traffic control utilization as well as at an aircraft flight deck during the course of ground maneuvering. Through the Utilization of aircraft tail numbers as an index, a master host memory may be developed which includes flight numbers, aircraft characteristics and the like which may be employed for evolving alert conditions and the like.
Abstract:
Control apparatus for guiding one or more vehicles along a closed transport system having a plurality of routes and a plurality of junctions each allowing a choice of two directions. The system is illustrated as comprising a number of interconnected sub-systems or networks. Each junction has associated therewith a transmitter which sends out a coded signal comprising at least two words, one of which indicates the direction to be taken from the junction to reach the different networks and also indicates the networks which the paths from the junction lead to. The second word does likewise for the route segments of the network or networks to which the paths from the junction lead. A like destination code is stored in the vehicle, and the vehicle compares the stored code and the successive received codes and obeys the word instructions from each successive junction till it arrives at the destination network. It then obeys the word 2 instructions till it arrives at the destination route segment or zone within that network. It may then count pulses generated by route-associated equipment till it arrives at a desired position on the destination route segment, where it can be halted.
Abstract:
Ein System wird vorgeschlagen, welches in der Lage ist ein Verfahren zur Erfassung und Weiterverarbeitung der Lage mindestens eines Schüttgut bewegenden Lagerplatzgerätes auszuführen. Dabei weist ein erstes Lagerplatzgerät (4) ein Portal mit einer Spannweite von wenigstens einigen Metern auf, dessen zwei Portalbeine (19, 20) sich jeweils auf einem linear verschiebbaren Fußelement (2, 3) abstützen. Das System umfasst mindestens einen ersten berührungslosen Abstandssensor (1) zur Messung eines relativen Abstandes in Richtung zwischen einem an dem ersten Lagerplatzgerät befindlichen Messpunkt und einem außerhalb des ersten Lagerplatzgerätes befindlichen Referenzpunkt, wobei der erste berührungslose Abstandssensor (1) auf einem der beiden Fußelemente (2) angebracht ist zur Messung eines ersten relativen Abstandes (A1a) zwischen dem einen Fußelement (2) und einem ersten, ortsfesten Referenzpunkt (R1). Das System umfasst des Weiteren einen zweiten berührungslosen Abstandssensor (1), welcher auf dem anderen der beiden Fußelemente (3) angebracht ist zur Messung eines zweiten relativen Abstandes (A2a) zwischen dem anderen Fußelement (3) und einem zweiten, ortsfesten Referenzpunkt (R2), sowie eine Auswerteeinheit (21, 23), welche dazu ausgelegt ist, aus dem ersten und zweiten relativen Abstand (A1a, A2a) eine Verdrehung (V) des ersten Lagerplatzgerätes (4) um eine zentrale Hochachse (H) zu ermitteln und die Verdrehung (V) oder eine dem Ausgleich der Verdrehung (V) dienende Ausgleichinformation an mindestens eine erste Steuereinheit (24) zur Steuerung der Bewegung der Fußelemente (2, 3) weiterzuleiten.
Abstract:
The present invention relates to an arrangement for a Ro-Ro vessel, which exhibits a number of cargo-receiving spaces provided with a driving surface internally in the vessel, and with a ramp extending between one such space and a quay, along which ramp driverless cargo handling vehicles (7), known as AGV vehicles, are capable of being driven between designated parking places for the purpose of transporting cargo between the quay and the aforementioned cargo-receiving space of the vessel. Means (9) are provided for causing the cargo handling vehicles (7) to be guided between the aforementioned spaces and the quay and into the intended train of vehicles in the designated location in a line (II) and without connecting the cargo handling vehicles (7) to one another.
Abstract:
The invention concerns an automatic steering system for a container handling machine, such as a mobile gantry crane (10), in order to make the container handling machine to move along straight lines determined by rows of containers of by a rail track or equivalent. The steering system comprises a navigation system installed in the field of containers, which system determines the desired running line by means of two arbitrarily placed points and keeps the container handling machine (10) on the desired line in order to permit a transfer of containers. The steering system is based on a GPS navigation system, which includes a stationary GPS apparatus mounted in a stationary ground station (21) and mobile GPS apparatuses (24) mounted on the container handling machines (10) moving in the nearby area, which GPS apparatus (24) are fitted to receive signals from the satellites of the GPS system so as to determine the locations of the GPS apparatuses. Further, radio apparatuses (23, 25) have been mounted in the stationary ground station (21) and on the mobile container handling machines (10), by means of which radio apparatuses a position-correcting signal is transmitted from the radio transmitter (23) of the stationary ground station to the mobile radio receivers (25) of the container handling machines (10).
Abstract:
Procédé d'optimisation du chargement/déchargement de conteneurs dans une installation portuaire comportant des grues (1) de quai, des portiques automatisés (7) d'empilement/dépilement de conteneurs, des véhicules (6) de transport de conteneurs entre les grues (1) et les portiques (7) ainsi que des voies de communication pour lesdits véhicules incluant des voies de passage (3) sous chaque grue (1) de quai et des voies de circulation (8) parallèles situées entres les grues (1) de quai et des voies d'accès (9) aux portiques automatisés (7), procédé comprenant la gestion optimisée des trajets des véhicules (8) en fonction des besoins de retrait et de dépose des conteneurs, notamment l'attribution à chaque véhicule (8) d'une tâche et d'une destination et la sélection d'un emplacement de parcage provisoire pour les véhicules (8) en transit dans des zones tampons prévues à cet effet. Ce procédé se caractérise en ce que les véhicules (6) de transport de conteneurs en transit sont affectés à des emplacements de parcage provisoire sous Ses grues (1) et/ou dans la voie de circulation (8a) proximale des grues (1), utilisées comme zone tampon,
Abstract:
The present invention concerns an intelligent system (100) for autonomously and securely assisting and guiding a motorized vehicle (10) along a predetermined path (Pa) from a starting point (Dep) to an ending point (Arr) within a determined area (Z), said system (100) including: a) said vehicle (10) comprising a plurality of motorized directional wheels (11) and a wheel control module (12) comprises a processor (12a) associated with a memory (12b) storing guiding instructions for controlling the traction and the direction of said wheels (11) so that the vehicle (10) follows said predetermined path (Pa),b) a remote cockpit (20) comprising electronics means (21) suitable for remotely guiding said vehicle (10), wherein said vehicle (10) comprises a sensing module (14) comprising a GPS suitable for receiving a first GPS signal (s1_GPS) containing coordinates (x1, y1) of the position (P1) of said vehicle (10) and for providing said coordinates (x1, y1) to said wheel control module (12), wherein the processor (12a) is also configured to continuously compare the received coordinates (x1, y1) with said predetermined path (Pa) and, if said coordinates (x1, y1) are not in compliance with the predetermined path (Pa), to transmit said coordinates (x1, y1) to the cockpit (20) via the communication modules (13, 23) so as to remotely guide said vehicle (10) using the electronic means (21) of the cockpit (20).
Abstract:
The invention relates to a guidance system (1) for a mobile unit (2) for localization and data transmission within a semi- or fully automatic-operated transport and transhipment process. Said guidance system (1) comprises at least one interrogator (transceiver) (3) which is carried on said mobile unit (2) and a number of stationary transponders (identification marks) (5) spread out across the movement area (4). When the guidance system (1) is in operation, the transponder (5) transmits an answer signal (SAN) in response to an interrogation signal (SAB) sent by the interrogator (3) for high local resolution identification of the mobile unit (2).
Abstract:
Method of optimizing the loading/unloading of containers in a port facility comprising quayside cranes (1), automated gantries (7) for stacking/unstacking containers, vehicles (6) for transporting containers between the cranes (1) and the gantries (7) as well as communication lanes for said vehicles including transit lanes (3) under each quayside crane (1) and parallel circulation lanes (8) situated between the quayside cranes (1) and access lanes (9) to the automated gantries (7), method comprising the optimized management of the journeys of the vehicles (8) as a function of the container removal and placement requirements, in particular the allocating to each vehicle (8) of a task and of a destination and the selecting of a provisional parking site for the vehicles (8) in transit in buffer zones provided for this purpose. This method is characterized in that the vehicles (6) for transporting containers in transit are assigned to provisional parking sites under the cranes (1) and/or in the proximal circulation lane (8a) of the cranes (1), which are used as buffer zone.