Navigator
A guiding vehicle ( 100 ) for an intralogistics system, wherein the guiding vehicle ( 100 ) is remote controlled or autonomous and configured to be connected to a self-propelled load bearing cart ( 200 ), and guide and control the propulsion of the self-propelled load bearing cart ( 200 ) such that the load bearing cart ( 200 ) can transport a load in the intralogistics system. The guiding vehicle ( 100 ) comprising a mechanical connector ( 170 ) for mechanically connecting the guiding vehicle ( 100 ) to the load bearing cart ( 200 ) and a connector for transferring data. The guiding vehicle ( 100 ) is configured to receive navigation data from the self-propelled load bearing cart ( 200 ), using the connector for transferring data, in the form of information concerning the movement of a drive wheel of the load bearing cart ( 200 ) obtained from at least one motor of the load bearing cart ( 200 ) or from at least one encoder connected to the drive wheel.
1. A self-propelled guiding vehicle for an intralogistics system, wherein the self-propelled guiding vehicle is remote controlled or autonomous and configured to be connected to a self-propelled load bearing cart, and guide and control a propulsion of the self-propelled load bearing cart such that the self-propelled load bearing cart can transport a load in the intralogistics system, the self-propelled guiding vehicle comprising:
a mechanical connector for mechanically connecting the self-propelled guiding vehicle to the self-propelled load bearing cart, and
a connector for transferring data, wherein:
the self-propelled guiding vehicle is configured to receive navigation data from the self-propelled load bearing cart, using the connector for transferring data, in the form of information concerning a movement of a drive wheel of the self-propelled load bearing cart obtained from at least one motor of the self-propelled load bearing cart or from at least one encoder connected to the drive wheel,
the self-propelled guiding vehicle is configured to be completely lifted from a floor surface when connected to the self-propelled load bearing cart, and
the self-propelled guiding vehicle is smaller than the self-propelled load bearing cart.
2. The self-propelled guiding vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the self-propelled guiding vehicle comprises an electrical energy storage, and wherein the self-propelled guiding vehicle is configured to transfer electrical energy from the electrical energy storage to the self-propelled load bearing cart by means of the electrical connector, for at least one of: propelling the self-propelled load bearing cart and handling the load placed on the self-propelled load bearing cart.
3. The self-propelled guiding vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the mechanical connector comprises a recess or a protrusion for connection with a corresponding recess or protrusion positioned on the self-propelled load bearing cart.
4. The self-propelled guiding vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the self-propelled guiding vehicle is configured to receive an emergency stop signal from the self-propelled load bearing cart, and wherein the self-propelled guiding vehicle is configured to control the propulsion of the self-propelled load bearing cart on the basis of the received emergency stop signal.
5. The self-propelled guiding vehicle according to claim 4 , wherein the self-propelled guiding vehicle is configured to receive the emergency stop signal from at least one contact sensor on the self-propelled load bearing cart.
6. The self-propelled guiding vehicle according to claim 4 , wherein the self-propelled guiding vehicle is configured to receive the emergency stop signal from at least one emergency switch on the self-propelled load bearing cart, the emergency switch being configured to be pressed by an operator.
7. The self-propelled guiding vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the mechanical connector is configured to be connected by means of a horizontal movement, along the floor surface, between the self-propelled guiding vehicle and the self-propelled load bearing cart.
8. The self-propelled guiding vehicle according to claim 1 , further comprising at least one of:
a connector for a pressurized fluid, such that a pressurized fluid can be transferred to or from the self-propelled guiding vehicle, and
a connector for transferring visible light from the self-propelled guiding vehicle to the self-propelled load bearing cart.
9. A self-propelled load bearing cart for use in an intralogistics system, the self-propelled load bearing cart being configured to:
be connected to the self-propelled guiding vehicle according to claim 1 , and
be guided and controlled by the self-propelled guiding vehicle such that the self-propelled load bearing cart can transport a load in the intralogistics system, the self-propelled load bearing cart comprising:
at least one motor connected to a drive wheel configured to engage a floor surface for propelling the self-propelled load bearing cart,
a mechanical connector for mechanically connecting the self-propelled load bearing cart to the self-propelled guiding vehicle,
a connector for transferring data, wherein:
the self-propelled load bearing cart is configured to transmit navigation data to the self-propelled guiding vehicle, using the connector for transferring data, in the form of information concerning a movement of the drive wheel of the self-propelled load bearing cart obtained from the at least one motor of the self-propelled load bearing cart, or from at least one encoder connected to the drive wheel,
the self-propelled load bearing cart is larger than the self-propelled guiding vehicle, and
the self-propelled guiding vehicle is configured to be completely lifted from a floor surface, such that the load of the self-propelled guiding vehicle is carried by the self-propelled load bearing cart.
10. The self-propelled load bearing cart according to claim 9 , wherein the self-propelled load bearing cart is configured to receive electrical energy from an electrical energy storage of the self-propelled guiding vehicle by the electrical connector, for at least one of: propelling the self-propelled load bearing cart and handling the load placed on the self-propelled load bearing cart.
11. The self-propelled load bearing cart according to claim 9 , wherein the self-propelled load bearing cart is configured to transmit an emergency stop signal to the self-propelled guiding vehicle, and wherein the propulsion of the self-propelled load bearing cart is configured to be controlled by the self-propelled guiding vehicle on the basis of the transmitted emergency stop signal.
12. The self-propelled load bearing cart according to claim 11 , wherein the self-propelled load bearing cart comprises at least one contact sensor, and wherein the emergency stop signal is generated by the at least one contact sensor.
13. The self-propelled load bearing cart according to claim 11 , wherein the self-propelled load bearing cart comprises at least one emergency switch, and wherein the emergency stop signal is generated by the at least one emergency switch.
14. The self-propelled load bearing cart according to claim 9 , wherein the mechanical connector comprises a recess or a protrusion for connection with a corresponding recess or protrusion positioned on the self-propelled guiding vehicle.
15. The self-propelled load bearing cart according to claim 9 , further comprising at least one of:
a connector for a pressurized fluid, such that a pressurized fluid can be transferred to or from the self-propelled load bearing cart, and
a connector for transferring visible light from the self-propelled guiding vehicle to the self-propelled load bearing cart.
16. The self-propelled load bearing cart according to claim 15 , wherein the self-propelled load bearing cart comprises lighting elements configured to be illuminated by visible light transferred from the self-propelled guiding vehicle by means of a connector for transferring visible light.