Autonomous transport systems with coupling and docking station for load or goods pickup

Abstract

Autonomous transport vehicles, in particular drones, tracked vehicles, watercraft, characterized in that the load to be transported is grasped, held and released by means of a coupling (K).

Description

Autonomous transport systems, especially drones, are increasingly being used for logistics applications. These vehicles transport various goods / loads. This application focuses on the reliable and automated picking up, transporting, and unloading or precisely dropping of any type of goods. An autonomous vehicle, exemplified below by a drone, consists, among other things, of the aircraft itself with its propulsion system, control unit, and power supply. The drone also transports various payloads, such as cameras, batteries, and other items. These payloads are usually located far from the drone operator and should therefore be automatically picked up and placed or dropped. Existing systems do not offer a convincing solution. Some robotic arms are heavy, imprecise, and unsuitable for all goods. Manual bayonet or screw connections also exist, but these require human intervention. Similarly, existing rigid docking stations demand high precision during docking and are not suitable for transporting varying loads. The overall cumbersome and heavy systems also consume a lot of energy, which reduces the important range and user time of the drone. The invention provides a simple, lightweight, and safe connection between the transport vehicle and the load, which can be automatically picked up and transported remotely – away from the user. The load can be dropped or transported in a controlled manner, and data and power transfer is also possible via the automatic docking of the drone. This is achieved by the design of the transport vehicle according to claim 1. The transport vehicle is equipped with a coupling, with one part of the coupling attached to the vehicle and the other part to the load. The coupling is opened, closed, and held in place via a remote control. This coupling allows goods to be reliably picked up, held, transported, unloaded, and dropped. An advantageous embodiment of the invention is specified in claim 2. The further development according to claim 2 enables a particularly secure coupling connection. The coupling consists of a bolt attached to the vehicle. The bolt receptacle is attached to the load. If the receptacle is self-centering, high tolerances are achieved when docking the coupling, ensuring a secure hold. This allows for quick and precise coupling of the vehicle to the load. An advantageous embodiment of the invention is specified in claim 3. The coupling connection becomes particularly effective through the further development according to claim 3. If the coupling is implemented via an electromagnetic system, a short, energy-saving pulse is sufficient to actuate the coupling. Furthermore, this allows for feedback that informs the vehicle operator whether the coupling is correctly engaged or disengaged. An advantageous embodiment of the invention is specified in claim 4. The bolt receptacle has two functions. One side forms the coupling connection, the other must hold the load. An economical improvement would be to create the simplest, most affordable, and most universal device possible, such as a standard screw connection, a strap, a magnetic connection, or something similar. An advantageous embodiment of the invention is specified in claim 5. Further development with sensors in the coupling element is advantageous, especially if an optical sensor is positioned on the coupling. This ensures safe, precise, and rapid docking of the vehicle to the load. An advantageous embodiment of the invention is specified in claim 6. If the coupling according to claim 6 is designed with an additional electrical connection alongside a mechanical connection, this is highly advantageous. During docking, the vehicle can be recharged, and new data, such as coordinates and time information, can be transmitted. An advantageous embodiment of the invention is specified in claim 7. A fundamental problem with autonomous vehicles is energy consumption. If the coupling is built with a self-locking mechanism, the vehicle only needs an electrical impulse to engage and disengage the coupling. No energy is required to hold the load. This is a significant advantage, especially over long distances. An advantageous embodiment of the invention is specified in claim 8. In the further development according to protection claim 8, the coupling is additionally designed as a docking station. This allows for an automatic docking, charging, and data interface for autonomous takeoff and landing. Vehicle storage is also possible here. An advantageous embodiment of the invention is specified in claim 9. If the coupling also features a bidirectional data interface, navigation, control, and diagnostic data can be exchanged. This improves the vehicle's efficiency, as data can be exchanged quickly and effectively. An advantageous embodiment of the invention is specified in claim 10. The energy supply of an autonomous transport vehicle is of central importance. In addition to direct electric charging, the coupling can also be equipped with an inductive charging device. This is particularly advantageous in harsh weather conditions, as electrical contacts cannot become dirty or corroded. Direct charging, on the other hand, offers the advantage of faster and more energy-efficient charging. An embodiment of the invention is explained with reference to Fig. 1, Fig. 2 to Fig. 3. Fig. 1 shows the bolt 1 of the coupling K (see Fig. 3), which is attached to the vehicle F. The bolt 1 consists of an electromagnetic assembly 3 that can move the pin 7 to open and close the coupling K. The pin 7 is self-locking, meaning that without power to the assembly 3, the pin 7 remains in position and the locking mechanism with the bolt receptacle 2 (see Fig. 2) is either open or closed. The pin 7 can be used multiple times for improved fixation. The sensor 5 is positioned at the tip of the bolt 1. The interfaces 6 and 8 are ideally located around the perimeter of the bolt 1, so that energy and data transmission can occur regardless of the angular position of the bolt 1 relative to the receptacle 2. The contact 9 also provides charging capability via a docking station D, which is not shown in the drawings. The inductive charging capability 10 is located in the upper part of the bolt 1.The counterpart is located in docking station D. Fig. 2 shows the bolt receptacle 2, which is attached to the load L. It is a simple, cost-effective, lightweight deep-drawn part, which has the circumferential recess 11 for the pin 7. Depending on the load, a universal device such as a conventional screw connection, a strap, a magnetic connection, or similar is attached to the lower part 4. Fig. 3 shows the coupling K in the closed state. The bolt 1 is inserted into the bolt receptacle 2 and the pin 7 is pressed into the recess 11 by the electromagnetic assembly 3. The coupling K is locked.

Claims

Autonomous transport vehicles, in particular drones, tracked vehicles, watercraft, characterized in that the load to be transported is grasped, held and released by means of a coupling (K). Autonomous transport vehicles according to claim 1, characterized in that the coupling(K) has a bolt(1) and a bolt receptacle(2), in particular by a self-centering bolt-bolt receptacle technology. Autonomous transport vehicles according to claim 1, 2, characterized in that the coupling(K) is addressed via an electromagnetic structure(3). Autonomous transport vehicles according to claim 1 - 3, characterized in that the bolt receptacle has a simple, universal device (4) for fastening the various load carriers. Autonomous transport vehicles according to claim 1 - 4, characterized in that the coupling element(1) is equipped with sensors(5), in particular with optical sensors. Autonomous transport vehicles according to claim 1 - 5, characterized in that the coupling has, in addition to the mechanical connection, an electrical connection(6), in particular for data transmission and electrical charging. Autonomous transport vehicles according to claim 1 - 6, characterized in that the coupling(K) has a self-holding mechanism(7) which securely holds the load without power supply. Autonomous transport vehicles according to claim 1 - 7, characterized in that the coupling (K) is designed as a docking station (D) for an automatic docking, charging and data interface. Autonomous transport vehicles according to claim 1 - 8, characterized in that the coupling(K) has a bidirectional data interface(8). Autonomous transport vehicles according to claim 1 - 9, characterized in that the coupling has a direct(9) and / or inductive(10) electrical charging device.

Images