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Automated guided cart system control

Active Publication Date: 2016-02-18
GM GLOBAL TECH OPERATIONS LLC
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The advantage of this patent is that automated guide carts can automatically go offline for battery replacement when the battery is low. This reduces or eliminates downtime of the carts and allows for quick battery replacement.

Problems solved by technology

However, in such operating conditions, there may be times when the batteries of a particular cart are discharged during use, thus stranding the cart.
This may result in lost production at the factory.
Some attempts at solutions to this concern, for example buying more expensive equipment / batteries or employing automatic charging pads, may be more expensive than desired.

Method used

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  • Automated guided cart system control
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  • Automated guided cart system control

Examples

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Embodiment Construction

[0008]Referring to FIG. 1, an automated guide cart system 8 includes an automated guided cart 10 that is shown on a factory floor 12. The cart 10 may include a battery pack 14 that powers an electric motor 16, which drives wheels 18, and an automated steering assembly 20 that steers another set of wheels 22. The cart 10 may also include a controller 24 that is in communication with the steering assembly 20, battery pack 14 and motor 16. The controller 24 may be in communication with a battery charge detector 25, which can detect the state-of-charge of the battery pack 14. The detector 25 may any one of a number of devices that can detect the state-of-charge of a battery, as are known to those skilled in the art. The cart 10 may also include an on-board transceiver26 for communication between the controller 24 and a remote station 28 mounted at a location on the floor 12.

[0009]The remote station 28 may include a power supply 30, which may be the electrical power supply in the factory...

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Abstract

A method of operating an automated guided cart may include directing, using a controller, the cart on a production operation path; automatically detecting a state-of-charge in an on-board battery pack; signaling to a remote station the state-of-charge; and when the state-of-charge is below a predetermined charge limit, the remote station automatically signaling the cart to automatically veer from the production operation path to a low battery charge path and stop at a battery station.

Description

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION[0001]The present invention relates generally to automated guided cart systems, and more particularly to control of such systems.[0002]Automated guided carts may be employed in factories to move items from one location to another. These carts operate autonomously without a human operator driving the cart. Such carts may use batteries to power an electric motor to propel the cart. However, in such operating conditions, there may be times when the batteries of a particular cart are discharged during use, thus stranding the cart. This may result in lost production at the factory. Some attempts at solutions to this concern, for example buying more expensive equipment / batteries or employing automatic charging pads, may be more expensive than desired.SUMMARY OF INVENTION[0003]An embodiment contemplates a method of operating an automated guided cart that includes: directing, using a controller, the cart on a production operation path; automatically detecting a state-...

Claims

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Application Information

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IPC IPC(8): G05D1/02B60L11/18G05B19/418
CPCG05D1/0225G05B19/41895G05D1/0217B60L11/1822B60L11/1861G05B2219/24136G05B2219/50393Y02T10/7072B60L53/80B60L58/12Y02T10/70Y02T90/14Y02T90/12
Inventor VAVRICK, PAUL, H.
Owner GM GLOBAL TECH OPERATIONS LLC
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