Transport path assembly, transport assembly, and method for operating the transport assembly
Patent Information
- Application Number
- EP2024711994
- Authority / Receiving Office
- EP · EP
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2023-03-22
- Filing Date
- 2024-03-12
- Publication Date
- 2026-01-28
AI Technical Summary
The increasing number of self-driving vehicles in production environments leads to congestion and productivity reductions due to delays and traffic jams, as existing systems struggle to efficiently manage the movement of multiple vehicles, particularly when some are loaded and others are not, increasing communication efforts and administrative burdens.
A transport route arrangement with distinct work and driving surfaces, where the work surface is designed for position-controlled movement with high spatial resolution and the driving surface acts as an express route with lower spatial resolution, allowing unloaded vehicles to travel at higher speeds and reducing the complexity of positioning technologies, thereby minimizing traffic jams and administrative efforts.
This solution enables a high number of vehicles to operate simultaneously with reduced communication and administrative efforts, minimizing traffic jams and increasing productivity by allowing unloaded vehicles to travel at higher speeds on express routes, while maintaining flexibility and efficiency in route planning.
Smart Images
Figure EP2024056532_26092024_PF_FP
Abstract
Description
[0001] Description
[0002] Title and procedure for
[0003] State of the art
[0004] The document EP 3 699 095 A1 discloses a driverless transport vehicle in a conveyor system, wherein the conveyor system provides a plurality of travel levels which are connected to one another via ramps.
[0005] Disclosure of the invention
[0006] In production engineering, self-driving vehicles are often used to transport goods or components between individual stations in a factory. These self-driving vehicles are often controlled by a master computer that determines the route the self-driving vehicles take in the surrounding area. As the number of self-driving vehicles increases, congestion in the driving areas can lead to delays or even traffic jams, reducing productivity in production engineering.
[0007] The invention relates to a transport path arrangement, as well as a transport arrangement and a method for operating the transport arrangement. Preferred or advantageous embodiments of the invention are evident from the subclaims, the following description, and the accompanying figures.
[0008] The subject matter of the invention is a transport route arrangement which is particularly suitable and / or designed for logistics applications, manufacturing applications, process applications and / or work applications.
[0009] The transport route arrangement comprises at least one work surface, wherein a first code arrangement is arranged on the work surface, wherein the first code arrangement can be used to determine the self-position of autonomous transport vehicles on the first code arrangement in order to enable a position-controlled, planar movement of autonomous transport vehicles on the work surface based on the self-position, and at least one driving surface, wherein a second code arrangement is arranged on the driving surface, wherein the driving surface is aligned in a main direction of travel at least in sections in the same direction as the work surface, wherein the second code arrangement can be used to determine the self-position of autonomous transport vehicles on the second code arrangement,to enable a position-controlled planar movement of autonomous transport vehicles on the driving surface based on their own position when traveling in the main direction of travel, at least transversely to the main direction of travel.
[0010] The transport route arrangement is characterized in that the working surface forms a working movement area for autonomous transport vehicles and the driving surface forms an express route for the autonomous transport vehicles and / or that the first code arrangement has a higher spatial resolution than the second code arrangement (10), at least in the main direction of travel.
[0011] Further embodiments of the transport path arrangement can be found in claims 2 to 5.
[0012] The transport arrangement comprises a plurality of autonomous transport vehicles. In particular, each transport vehicle is designed to be free of people. Alternatively or additionally, the transport vehicle is designed to exclusively transport goods, products, workpieces, or the like. For example, the transport vehicle is implemented as a transport robot or as a flying or hovering vehicle. Preferred embodiments of the transport vehicle are AGVs (Automated Guided Vehicles) and / or FTFs (Driverless Transport Vehicles). In particular, the transport vehicles are designed as vehicles that transport small quantities quickly over short distances and are preferably used for transport within a production line. Optionally, trains consisting of a train vehicle and at least one trailer or a series of trailers are also used as transport vehicles.
[0013] The transport arrangement has at least one work surface, wherein the transport vehicles can move autonomously on the work surface. A first code arrangement is arranged on the work surface, wherein the transport vehicles are designed to determine their own position on the work surface based on the first code arrangement. In particular, position information is encoded in the first code arrangement. In particular, the position information is designed as absolute position information. Based on their own position, the transport vehicles can move in a position-controlled, autonomous, and planar manner, in particular in two independent directions, on the work surface.
[0014] The transport arrangement has a travel surface, wherein the transport vehicles can move autonomously on the travel surface. A second code arrangement is arranged on the travel surface, wherein the transport vehicles are designed to determine their own position on the travel surface based on the second code arrangement. In particular, position information is encoded in the second code arrangement. In particular, the position information is designed as absolute position information or as relative position information. Based on their own position, the transport vehicles can move in a position-controlled manner, in particular transversely to the main travel direction, while traveling in the main travel direction.
[0015] Preferably, the transport vehicles each have a sensor device for reading the position information from the first and / or second code arrangement. For example, the code arrangements can be designed as optical or magnetic code arrangements.
[0016] Within the scope of the invention, it is proposed that the work surface forms a working movement area for the transport vehicles and the driving surface forms at least or exactly one express route for the transport vehicles. Thus, two different functions are assigned to the work surface and the driving surface, with transport vehicles that travel or can travel at high speeds being preferably guided on the express route. This includes, for example, but is not limited to, transport vehicles that are en route to a charging station or transport vehicles that cover very long distances. In particular, it can be provided that preferably, largely or exclusively loaded transport vehicles are guided in the work movement area and preferably, largely or exclusively unloaded transport vehicles are guided on the express route.
[0017] On express routes and / or on the roadway, complex positioning technologies for the transport vehicles can be dispensed with. These can be replaced, for example, by simple and robust lane-keeping algorithms and guidelines and / or guideline networks.
[0018] Alternatively or additionally, it is claimed that the first code arrangement has a higher spatial resolution than the second code arrangement, at least in the main direction of travel. The different spatial resolution reflects the fact that the possible transport routes on the travel surface, particularly in the form of express routes, are less complex and therefore less complex position information needs to be provided. The spatial resolution is understood in particular to be the spatial distance between two distinguishable self-positions. In the first code arrangement, the distinguishable distance is smaller than in the second code arrangement. In particular, the spatial resolution in the main direction of travel is smaller in the first code arrangement than in the second code arrangement.
[0019] The use of particularly low-cost mobile transport vehicles allows the simultaneous deployment of a very large number of simultaneously moving mobile transport vehicles on a map and / or in the transport arrangement. This results in a multitude of challenges for rail and fleet planning. On the one hand, the communication effort is significantly increased, as each mobile transport vehicle must be controlled or queried individually. On the other hand, there is an increased risk of traffic jams on the transport routes. If, for example, individual mobile transport vehicles are loaded with workpieces that force them to travel at a slow speed, the mobile transport vehicles approaching from behind are automatically forced to reduce their speed as well. This also includes mobile transport vehicles that are currently unloaded and could actually travel at the maximum permitted speed.Furthermore, a large number of transport vehicles operating simultaneously significantly increases the administrative burden for the fleet manager. In VDA5050, for example, the nodes (defined points of entry on a map) of a planned transport route are divided into base and horizon nodes. Base nodes are those nodes that are already reserved for the respective transport vehicle and can be accessed in any case. The horizon nodes describe the subsequent nodes and can still be replanned if they are occupied by another transport vehicle at the relevant time. With a large number of transport vehicles operating simultaneously, the base will shrink and the horizon will expand. Consequently, the efficiency of the planned transport routes decreases because the optimal routes cannot be used.In the worst case, transport vehicles may even have to wait in one place for the next node to become available if no alternative routes (nodes) are available. Furthermore, more rescheduling requires an increased number of updates to the transport vehicles, which in turn requires increased communication overhead. To reduce the utilization of the main routes (and thus also the aforementioned disadvantages / challenges), transport vehicles that are not actively executing a task (e.g., traveling to a charging station) can be rerouted from the main routes on the work area to express routes on the driving area.
[0020] Express routes can be implemented on driving surfaces, for example, using alternative table modules, which can be installed underneath a standard table module. On these express routes, for example, transport vehicles that can travel at high speeds are used primarily or exclusively. This includes, but is not limited to, transport vehicles that are on their way to a charging station or transport vehicles that have to cover very long distances. The transport vehicles can therefore cover long distances at a significantly increased speed. The risk of traffic jams is also drastically reduced, as all transport vehicles travel at the same speed and / or are unloaded and, in particular, do not have any sensitive products loaded on them. The risk of collisions with other transport vehicles can also be greatly reduced on express routes, as a one-way street principle is followed.Each express route offers one or more defined lanes, which may only be used in one direction at a time. (This reduces the effort required for route planning and, accordingly, also for communication.) Complex positioning technologies can be dispensed with for express routes. These can be replaced, for example, by simple and robust lane-keeping algorithms and guidelines. To avoid increasing space requirements, the express routes can be constructed below the actual lanes, for example. Since the connection to process stations is not relevant, accessibility plays only a minor role here. Transport vehicles can be coupled onto and off the express routes using various methods. Common technologies such as the use of portals, elevators, or ramps are conceivable here.
[0021] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the transport vehicles are mechanically movable and / or move without guides on the work surface and / or the running surface. In particular, the transport vehicles move without rails and / or without positive guidance on the work surface and / or the running surface. Thus, the transport vehicles are, in principle, capable of maneuvering in any direction on the work surface and / or the running surface.
[0022] It is particularly preferred that the transport arrangement has a coupling section for coupling transport vehicles, in particular from the work surface to the travel surface, and / or a decoupling section for decoupling transport vehicles from the travel surface, in particular to the work surface. The coupling section and / or the decoupling section can be integrated into a work station and / or production station and / or process station. The coupling section and / or the decoupling section can be moved, for example, via portals, elevators, or ramps.
[0023] It is particularly preferred that the driving surface and / or the express route form at least or exactly a one-way street for the transport vehicles. This eliminates any oncoming traffic on the same express route by other transport vehicles, which reduces the effort required for route planning and, accordingly, also for communication to control the transport vehicles. In particular, no evasive maneuvers for oncoming transport vehicles need to be implemented on the express route. It is preferably provided that the express route is only accessible in one direction, namely the main direction of travel. It is possible for the driving surface to form a one-way street for the transport vehicles.Alternatively, the driving area can also have several independent express routes, whereby the express routes each form one-way streets, but independent express routes can be used in the main direction of travel and in the opposite direction of transport.
[0024] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the first code arrangement is designed as a two-dimensional coding of the preferably absolute position for the transport vehicle. For example, the self-position can be determined from the first code arrangement using two independent coordinates, such as the X coordinate and the Y coordinate. The first code arrangement is preferably designed as described in the document DE 10 2016 216 221 A1, the content of which is incorporated into the present disclosure via referencing (incorporated by reference).
[0025] Alternatively or additionally, it is preferred that the second code arrangement comprises a position coding in the form of at least one guide line in the main travel direction. Thus, the transport vehicles' own position on the work surface can be determined, at least in sections, only in relation to a direction transverse to the main travel direction. In the simplest case, the second code arrangement thus comprises only one continuous guide line, whereby the transport vehicles can only determine the transverse direction to the guide line as their own position. This is sufficient to allow the transport vehicles to travel along the guide line and / or the express route. Optionally, the second code arrangement comprises precisely one guide line with at least one network point, whereby a position in the main travel direction is encoded at the network points and / or can be determined from the coding. The network points can, for example, be designed as start and / or end points of the express route.
[0026] It may also be provided that several independent guidelines are provided on the road surface in the main direction of travel, optionally supplemented with corresponding network points. The guidelines are preferably designed as one-way streets.
[0027] In a further development of the invention, the second code arrangement comprises a guideline network with a plurality of guidelines and network points, with the network points connecting the guidelines to one another. This makes it possible for the transport vehicle to determine its own position relative to the guideline network. However, particularly in the main direction of travel, the spatial resolution is significantly lower than with the first code arrangement, since only the network points are available as spatial resolution in the main direction of travel. The distance between the network points in the main direction of travel is greater than the distance between neighboring positions encoded in the first code arrangement and / or determinable own positions.
[0028] In principle, the running surface can be arranged laterally offset from the working surface. However, it is preferred that the working surface and the running surface are offset from one another in height and, optionally, additionally, are arranged so as to be congruent in a plan view from above or at least partially congruent and / or overlapping, thus forming an overtaking section and / or return section. In particular, the coupling-in section and / or the coupling-out section can be designed as ramps between the working surface and the running surface, thus creating a particularly compact transport arrangement. In a preferred application, the transport arrangement is provided with a work station, wherein the work station can be designed as a storage station, a manufacturing station, a production station, a process station, etc.The work surface forms an inlet for the transport vehicles to the work station, the driving surface forms an outlet from the work station.
[0029] In a further development of the invention, the transport arrangement comprises a master computer device, which can be embodied, for example, as a digital data processing device, such as a computer, a cloud, etc. The master computer device is designed to control the transport vehicles and, in particular, to calculate transport routes and / or to transmit transport routes to the transport vehicles. It is provided that the master computer device is designed to move the transport vehicles on the travel surface faster on average than on the work surface. This possibility arises from the fact that the travel surface is designed as an express route.
[0030] It is particularly preferred that the master computer device is configured to control the transport vehicles such that at least a majority of the transport vehicles or all of the transport vehicles on the travel area are configured as unloaded transport vehicles. Because the transport vehicles are unloaded, they can travel at a higher speed than the loaded transport vehicles. By selecting faster transport vehicles for the travel area, it is possible for the transport vehicles to travel faster on the travel area configured as an express route.
[0031] A further subject of the invention relates to a method for operating the transport arrangement as described above or according to one of the preceding claims. It is provided that the transport vehicles are guided over the work surface and the driving surface.
[0032] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the transport vehicles are fed to the work station in a loaded state via the work surface and removed from the work station in an unloaded state via the drive surface. Further features, advantages, and effects of the invention will become apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention and the accompanying figures. These show:
[0033] Figure 1 is a schematic representation of a transport arrangement as an embodiment of the invention;
[0034] Figure 2 is a schematic representation of a first code arrangement for the transport arrangement in Figure 1;
[0035] Figure 3 a - c schematic representations of the second code arrangement for the transport arrangement in Figure 1 .
[0036] Figure 1 shows a schematic side view of a transport arrangement 1 as an exemplary embodiment of the invention. The transport arrangement 1 comprises a transport path arrangement, including a work surface 2 and a travel surface 3. The work surface 2 and the travel surface 3 are offset in height from one another and, when viewed from above, overlap or even coincide. A plurality of transport vehicles 4 are arranged on the work surface 2 and / or the travel surface 3, which can move on the surfaces 2, 3. The work surface 2 and the travel surface 3 are arranged on a common table or several tables.
[0037] The transport arrangement 1 has a process station 6, wherein products 7, such as workpieces, are brought over the work surface 2 with the transport vehicles 4 as loaded transport vehicles 4 to the process station 6, wherein the transport vehicles 4 are unloaded in the process station 6.
[0038] Between the work surface 2 and the travel surface 3, a coupling section 8 is arranged, which in the exemplary embodiment is designed as a ramp and which allows the transport vehicles 4 to be guided from the work surface 2 and / or the process station 6 to the travel surface 3. Starting from the process station 6, the transport vehicles 4 are guided in an unloaded state onto the travel surface 3 via the coupling section 8. The transport arrangement 1 operates in particular in a circulating mode, with loaded transport vehicles 4 being guided via the work surface 2 to the process station 6, unloaded in the process station 6, and optionally removed as unloaded transport vehicles 4 via the coupling section 8 over the travel surface 3 in a main travel direction 100. On the travel surface 3, the transport vehicles 4 travel at a significantly higher speed than on the work surface 2.
[0039] The work surface 2 has a first code arrangement 9, wherein the code arrangement 9 encodes a position on the work surface 2. The transport vehicles 4 are designed to read the position from the code arrangement 9 and thereby determine their own position. Based on their own position, the transport vehicles 4 can move freely on the work surface 2, i.e., in particular, over a large area. The possibility of moving over a large area allows the loaded transport vehicles 4 to be fed from any direction. This provides a very high degree of flexibility with regard to the controllability of the transport vehicles 4 on the work surface 2.
[0040] In contrast, on the driving surface 3, only a return transport of the unloaded transport vehicles 4 is carried out in the main direction of travel 100. Alternatively or optionally, the transport vehicles 4 can carry out other simplified routes, such as routes to the loading station or routes to the charging station (electric) on the driving surface 3. The speed of the transport vehicles 4 is on average greater on the driving surface 3 than on the working surface 2, so that the driving surface 3 implements an express route, in particular an overtaking route for the transport vehicles 4.
[0041] Thus, the working area 2 forms a working movement area for the transport vehicles 4, while the driving area 3 forms at least or exactly one express route for the transport vehicles 4, since only simple transport routes are used here and / or only unloaded transport vehicles 4 are used.
[0042] A second code arrangement 10 is arranged on the travel surface 3, wherein the transport vehicles 4 are configured to determine their own position based on the second code arrangement 10. However, the own position does not have to represent a two-dimensional absolute position—as is the case on the work surface 2 as a working movement area. Rather, it is sufficient that the own position is determined to such an extent that the transport vehicles can be guided in a position-controlled manner at least in a direction transverse to the main travel direction 100 when traveling in the main travel direction 100.
[0043] It is thus provided that the first code arrangement 9 has a higher spatial resolution than the second code arrangement 10, at least in the main direction of travel 100.
[0044] The transport vehicles 4 can be controlled by a master computer 14 with regard to the planning of the transport routes, and the transport vehicles 4 travel the transport routes autonomously. For example, the transport routes can be transmitted from the master computer 14 to the transport vehicles 4, which then travel the transport routes autonomously.
[0045] Driving surfaces 3, for example, designed on express route table modules, are printed with the second code arrangement 10 as a simplified guidance system (e.g., guide lines). Here, there is no need to determine the transport vehicle's 4 position absolutely in two dimensions. The express route table modules can also be installed under standard table modules with the work surface featuring the first code arrangement 9, so no additional space is required. In addition, coupling and uncoupling modules are provided as coupling sections 8 and uncoupling sections (portal, elevator, ramp, etc.), which can place individual transport vehicles 4 onto and off the express routes.
[0046] Figure 2 shows a highly schematic embodiment of the first code arrangement 9, wherein the latter is designed as a dot matrix with X and Y coordinates. The first code arrangement 9 can be aligned along the main direction of travel 100, but any other alignment is also conceivable. Using the dot matrix, the respective transport vehicle 4 can determine its own position absolutely with a spatial resolution which corresponds at least to the distance between the points in the dot matrix. If necessary, a higher spatial resolution can be achieved. Figures 3 a - c show different embodiments of the second code arrangement 10. The second code arrangement 10 comprises at least one guide line 11, wherein the guide line 11 is aligned in the same direction as the main direction of travel 100.As shown in Figure 3a, the second code arrangement 10 can have only one guide line 11, which extends over the entire length of the travel surface 3 in the main travel direction 100. In this embodiment, the second code arrangement 10 has no position information with respect to the main travel direction 100, so that a spatial resolution in the main travel direction 100 is not present and is thus smaller than the spatial resolution of the code arrangement 9 in the transport device 100. A smaller spatial resolution is also provided in the transverse direction 200.
[0047] Figure 3b shows a modified embodiment, wherein two additional network points 12a, b are provided in the second code arrangement 10, which, for example, form a starting position (12a) and / or an end position (12b) of the guide line 11. Thus, the spatial resolution is limited to the two network points 12a, b in the main travel direction 100, so that the spatial resolution in the transport device 100 of the second code arrangement 10 is smaller than the spatial resolution of the first code arrangement 9.
[0048] In the embodiment shown in Figure 3c, the second code arrangement 10 has three or more parallel guide lines 11, which meet at further network points 12c, d, with the further network points 12c, d being designed as branching points. This forms a guide line network 13 as the second code arrangement 10. Here, too, the spatial resolution of the second code arrangement 10 in the main direction of travel 100 is significantly smaller than the spatial resolution of the first code arrangement 9 in the same direction.
[0049] What the exemplary embodiments in Figures 3 a-c have in common is that the guide lines 11 and / or the guide line structure 13 are designed as one-way streets and can only be traveled in one direction. This significantly reduces the effort required to detect the position in the main direction of travel 100 due to the lower spatial resolution. Furthermore, the control effort required by the master computer device 14 to control the transport vehicles 4 is significantly reduced, since no oncoming transport vehicles 4 need to be taken into account.
[0050] In further embodiments, it is possible that different guidelines 11 and / or different guideline networks 13 are used as independent
[0051] One-way structures are formed and form the second code arrangement 10, so that the previously described advantages are also present with a plurality of guide lines 11 or guide line networks 13. However, the direction of different and, in particular, independent guide lines 11 and / or guide line networks 13 can be aligned differently on the driving surface 3, as indicated in Figure 1.
Claims
Claims 1. A transport route arrangement with at least one work surface (2), wherein a first code arrangement (9) is arranged on the work surface (2), wherein the first code arrangement (9) can be used to determine the self-position of autonomous transport vehicles (4) on the first code arrangement (9) in order to enable a position-controlled, planar movement of autonomous transport vehicles (4) on the work surface (2) based on the self-position, and with a driving surface (3), wherein a second code arrangement (10) is arranged on the driving surface (3), wherein the driving surface (3) is oriented in a main direction of travel (100) at least partially in the same direction as the work surface (2), wherein the second code arrangement (10) can be used to determine the self-position of autonomous transport vehicles (4) on the second code arrangement (10),to enable a position-controlled planar movement of autonomous transport vehicles (4) on the driving surface (3) on the basis of the own position when traveling in the main direction of travel (100) at least in the transverse direction (200) to the main direction of travel (100), characterized in that the working surface (2) forms a working movement area for autonomous transport vehicles (4) and the driving surface (3) forms an express route for autonomous transport vehicles (4) and / or that the first code arrangement (9) has a higher spatial resolution than the second code arrangement (10), at least in the main direction of travel (100), 2. Transport route arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first code arrangement (9) has a two-dimensional coding of the position for autonomous transport vehicles (4).
3. Transport route arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the second code arrangement (10) is a coding of the position in the form of at least one guide line (11) in the main direction of travel (100) 4. Transport route arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the second code arrangement (10) has a guideline network (10) with a plurality of guidelines (11) and network points (12a, b, c, d), wherein the network points (12a, b, c, d) connect the guidelines (11) to one another.
5. Transport route arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the working surface (2) and the driving surface (3) are arranged at a height offset from one another.
6. Transport arrangement (1), in particular comprising a transport route arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, with a plurality of autonomous transport vehicles (4), with at least one work surface (2), wherein a first code arrangement (9) is arranged on the work surface (2), wherein the transport vehicles (4) are designed to determine their own position on the first code arrangement (9) in order to move over the work surface (2) in a position-controlled manner based on their own position, and with a driving surface (3), wherein a second code arrangement (10) is arranged on the driving surface (3), wherein the driving surface (3) is oriented in a main direction of travel (100) at least partially in the same direction as the work surface (2), wherein the transport vehicles (4) are designed, to carry out a determination of the own position on the second code arrangement (10) in order to move on the travel surface (3) on the basis of the own position when traveling in the main travel direction (100) at least in a position-controlled manner in the transverse direction (200) to the main travel direction (100), characterized in that the work surface (2) forms a work movement area for the transport vehicles (4) and the travel surface (3) forms an express route for the transport vehicles (4) and / or that the first code arrangement (9) has a higher spatial resolution than the second code arrangement (10) at least in the main travel direction (100).
7. Transport arrangement (1) according to claim 6, characterized in that the transport mobiles (4) are mechanically movable without guides on the working surface (2) and / or on the driving surface (3).
8. Transport arrangement (1) according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the transport arrangement (1) has a coupling section (8) for coupling transport vehicles (4) from the working surface (2) into the driving surface (3) and / or a decoupling section for decoupling transport vehicles (4) from the driving surface (3) into the working surface (2).
9. Transport arrangement (1) according to one of claims 6 to 8, characterized in that the driving surface (3) and / or the express route forms a one-way street for the transport vehicles (4).
10. Transport arrangement (1) according to one of claims 6 to 9, characterized in that the first code arrangement (9) has a two-dimensional coding of the position for the transport vehicles (4) and / or that the second code arrangement (10) has a coding of the position in the form of at least one guide line (11) in the main direction of travel (100), or that the second code arrangement (10) has a guide line network (10) with a plurality of guide lines (11) and network points (12a, b, c, d), wherein the network points (12a, b, c, d) connect the guidelines (11) with each other 11. Transport arrangement (1) according to one of claims 6 to 10, characterized in that the working surface (2) and the driving surface (3) are arranged offset in height from one another.
12. Transport arrangement (1) according to one of claims 6 to 11, characterized by a work station (6), wherein the work surface (2) forms an inlet for the transport vehicles (4) to the work station (6) and the driving surface (3) forms an outlet from the work station (6).
13. Transport arrangement (1) according to one of claims 6 to 12, characterized by a master computer device (14), wherein the master computer device (14) is designed to control the transport vehicles (4) in such a way that the transport vehicles (4) are moved on the driving surface (3) on average faster than on the working surface (2).
14. Transport arrangement (1) according to one of claims 6 to 13, characterized by one or the master computer device (14), wherein the master computer device (14) is designed to control the transport vehicles (4) so that on the driving surface (2) at least a majority of the transport vehicles (4) are designed as unloaded transport vehicles (4).
15. Method for operating the transport arrangement (1) according to one of claims 6 to 14, characterized in that the transport vehicles (4) are guided over the work surface (2) and the travel surface (3), wherein the transport vehicles (4) are preferably fed in a loaded state via the work surface (2) to the work station (6) and / or are preferably removed in an unloaded state via the travel surface (3).