IP Library Granted Patent US 12,258,213
Granted Patent B2
US 12,258,213 · App. 17/565,521 · Granted Mar 25, 2025

Conveyance system, conveying method, and program

Inventor: Yutaro Ishida (Toyota, JP)
Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
B65G1/137G05D1/02
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,258,213
App. No.
17/565,521
Granted
Mar 25, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A conveyance system includes a conveyance robot that conveys a carried item adjacent to an obstacle, by approaching the carried item in a predetermined control target direction, getting into under the carried item, and moving when the carried item is lifted by an elevating device. The conveyance system obtains information on a control error indicating deflection in a yawing direction of a moving direction of the conveyance robot relative to the control target direction, when the conveyance robot gets into under the carried item, determines whether the carried item interferes with the obstacle, when the conveyance robot starts moving in the condition where the carried item is lifted, based on the obtained control error information, and corrects the control target direction used when the conveyance robot gets into under the carried item, to reduce the control error, when determining that the carried item interferes with the obstacle.

Claims (24)

1. A conveyance system comprising:

a conveyance robot configured to convey an item located adjacent to an obstacle, by approaching the item in a predetermined control target direction relative to the item, getting under the item, lifting the item, and moving in a lifted condition, the lifted condition being a condition in which the item is lifted by the conveyance robot;

a first processor; and

a memory, wherein

the conveyance robot includes

a second processor,

a robot main body,

a first motor driver configured to drive a motor of wheels, the wheels being attached to the robot main body, and

a second motor driver configured to drive a motor of a plate, the plate being attached to the robot main body and being configured to lift the item placed on the plate,

the first processor is configured to:

obtain information on a control error from the memory, the information on the control error indicating deflection in a yaw direction of a direction of movement of the conveyance robot relative to the predetermined control target direction when the conveyance robot gets under the item;

determine, based on the obtained information on the control error, whether the item gets closer to the obstacle when the conveyance robot starts moving in the lifted condition;

determine whether a value of a clearance between the item and the obstacle is equal to or smaller than a predetermined value;

determine that the item interferes with the obstacle in response to a determination that the item gets closer to the obstacle when the conveyance robot starts moving in the lifted condition and a determination that the value of the clearance between the item and the obstacle is equal to or smaller than the predetermined value;

correct the predetermined control target direction used when the conveyance robot gets under the item to reduce the control error; and

transmit the corrected predetermined control target direction to the second processor, and

the second processor is configured to:

receive the corrected predetermined control target direction;

control the first motor driver to drive the motor of the wheels to move the conveyance robot in the corrected predetermined control target direction under the item;

control the second motor driver to drive the motor of the plate to move the plate up to lift the item; and

control the first motor driver to drive the motor of the wheels to move the conveyance robot to convey the item to a destination.

2. The conveyance system according to claim 1 , wherein the first processor is further configured to

determine whether the predetermined control target direction used when the conveyance robot gets under the item is in parallel with the obstacle, and

correct the predetermined control target direction to reduce the control error in response to a determination that the predetermined control target direction used when the conveyance robot gets under the item is in parallel with the obstacle.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 30, 2021
From: ISHIDA, YUTARO
To: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Reel/Frame 058505/0557 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2021-026156 · Feb 22, 2021 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20220267092A1 · Aug 25, 2022
References Cited (4)
US 11407590B1 · Pajevic · 2022 [cited by examiner]
US 11459221B2 · Levasseur · 2022 [cited by examiner]
US 20180086561A1 · Stubbs · 2018 [cited by examiner]
JP 6247796B2 · 2017 [cited by applicant]