IP Library › Granted Patent US 11,738,721
Granted Patent B2
US 11,738,721 · App. 16/636,681 · Granted Aug 29, 2023

Device and method for maintaining the capability for precise navigation of an automated guided vehicle

Inventors: Andreas Kuehne (Harburg Ebermergen, DE); Ruediger Geiger (Genderkingen, DE); Erwin Herre (Buchdorf, DE); Stefan Wilfling (Dillingen, DE)
Assignee: GRENZEBACH MASCHINENBAU GMBH
B60S3/04B60L53/35B60W60/001G01C21/3469G01C21/3605H04W4/029
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,738,721
App. No.
16/636,681
Granted
Aug 29, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

The invention relates to a device and method for maintaining the capability for precise navigation of an automated guided vehicle (TFS), comprising the following method features: a) an automated guided vehicle ( 1 ) is automatically sent into a testing station ( 26 ) for checking and cleaning of its laser scanner; b) the vehicle ( 1 ) is moved within the testing station ( 26 ) by means of its drive and the position of the vehicle is checked; c) if the positioning is correct, the laser scanner ( 2 ) of the vehicle ( 1 ) is cleaned; d) the result of the cleaning process is checked; e) and the vehicle ( 1 ) drives out of the testing station ( 26 ).

Claims (23)

1. An apparatus for maintaining a precision of a navigation capability of a driverless transport vehicle (TFS), having the following features:

a test station ( 26 ) for a temporary stay of a transport vehicle ( 1 ) that has an open front side and a delimited rear side, wherein in each case two depressions ( 10 ) for receiving drive wheels ( 11 ) and two depressions ( 25 ) for receiving support wheels ( 24 ) are provided in a surface region ( 9 ) on a bottom;

a test line ( 18 ) is provided in a horizontal direction on the rear side of the test station ( 26 ) at a height of a laser scanner ( 2 ) of the transport vehicle ( 1 ), wherein in each case a marking of a test point ( 13 ) for an angle adjustment of the laser scanner ( 2 ) of the transport vehicle ( 1 ) is provided at a same height in a width of the surface region ( 9 ) on a left-hand and a right-hand side of the surface region ( 9 );

a device ( 19 ) for moving a cleaning apparatus on the front side of the transport vehicle ( 1 ) is provided on the rear side of the test station ( 26 ); and

a position sensor ( 20 ) for computational capturing of a position of the transport vehicle ( 1 ) is provided on longitudinal sides of an inner region of the test station ( 26 ) in a region of the front side and of the rear side of the transport vehicle ( 1 ).

2. The apparatus of claim 1 comprising a delimitation device ( 23 ), consisting of transparent, flexible material or of rods marking corners of a goods carrier, serves for marking an end of the goods carrier ( 3 ).

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the cleaning apparatus consists of a spray nozzle ( 16 ) for a cleaning liquid, a brush ( 15 ), and a blasting nozzle ( 14 ) for drying.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the surface region ( 9 ) in the test station ( 26 ) has a charging device for electrical energy for charging electric storage devices of the transport vehicle ( 1 ).

5. An apparatus for maintaining a precision of a navigation capability of a driverless transport vehicle (TFS), having the following features:

a test station ( 26 ) for a temporary stay of a transport vehicle ( 1 ) that has an open front side and a delimited rear side, wherein in each case two depressions ( 10 ) for receiving drive wheels ( 11 ) and two depressions ( 25 ) for receiving support wheels ( 24 ) are provided in a surface region ( 9 ) on a bottom;

a test line ( 18 ) is provided in a horizontal direction on the rear side of the test station ( 26 ) at a height of a laser scanner ( 2 ) of the transport vehicle ( 1 ), wherein in each case a marking of a test point ( 13 ) for an angle adjustment of the laser scanner ( 2 ) of the transport vehicle ( 1 ) is provided at a same height in a width of the surface region ( 9 ) on a left-hand and a right-hand side of the surface region ( 9 );

a device ( 19 ) for moving a cleaning apparatus on the front side of the transport vehicle ( 1 ) is provided on the rear side of the test station ( 26 ); and

a delimitation device ( 23 ), consisting of transparent, flexible material or of rods marking corners of a goods carrier, serves for marking an end of the goods carrier ( 3 ).

6. The apparatus of claim 5 comprising a position sensor ( 20 ) for computational capturing of a position of the transport vehicle ( 1 ) is provided on longitudinal sides of an inner region of the test station ( 26 ) in a region of the front side and of the rear side of the transport vehicle ( 1 ).

7. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the cleaning apparatus consists of a spray nozzle ( 16 ) for a cleaning liquid, a brush ( 15 ), and a blasting nozzle ( 14 ) for drying.

8. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the surface region ( 9 ) in the test station ( 26 ) has a charging device for electrical energy for charging electric storage devices of the transport vehicle ( 1 ).

9. An apparatus for maintaining a precision of a navigation capability of a driverless transport vehicle (TFS), having the following features:

a test station ( 26 ) for a temporary stay of a transport vehicle ( 1 ) that has an open front side and a delimited rear side, wherein in each case two depressions ( 10 ) for receiving drive wheels ( 11 ) and two depressions ( 25 ) for receiving support wheels ( 24 ) are provided in a surface region ( 9 ) on a bottom;

a test line ( 18 ) is provided in a horizontal direction on the rear side of the test station ( 26 ) at a height of a laser scanner ( 2 ) of the transport vehicle ( 1 ), wherein in each case a marking of a test point ( 13 ) for an angle adjustment of the laser scanner ( 2 ) of the transport vehicle ( 1 ) is provided at a same height in a width of the surface region ( 9 ) on a left-hand and a right-hand side of the surface region ( 9 ); and

a device ( 19 ) for moving a cleaning apparatus on the front side of the transport vehicle ( 1 ) is provided on the rear side of the test station ( 26 ), wherein the cleaning apparatus consists of a spray nozzle ( 16 ) for a cleaning liquid, a brush ( 15 ), and a blasting nozzle ( 14 ) for drying.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 comprising a position sensor ( 20 ) for computational capturing of a position of the transport vehicle ( 1 ) is provided on longitudinal sides of an inner region of the test station ( 26 ) in a region of the front side and of the rear side of the transport vehicle ( 1 ).

11. The apparatus of claim 9 comprising a delimitation device ( 23 ) consisting of transparent, flexible material or of rods marking corners of a goods carrier, serves for marking an end of the goods carrier ( 3 ).

12. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the surface region ( 9 ) in the test station ( 26 ) has a charging device for electrical energy for charging electric storage devices of the transport vehicle ( 1 ).

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 5, 2020
From: KUEHNE, ANDREAS; GEIGER, RUEDIGER; HERRE, ERWIN; WILFLING, STEFAN
To: GRENZEBACH MASCHINENBAU GMBH
Reel/Frame 051722/0080 →
Priority Claims (1)
DE 10 2017 007 511.5 · Aug 9, 2017 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20210146889A1 · May 20, 2021