Rigid AGV Bumper Assembly With Flexible Deflection Sensing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing automatic guided vehicle (AGV) systems face challenges in integrating collapsible contact bumpers with large radii and shallow edges into vehicles with complex shapes, making them difficult to effectively detect collisions and prevent damage.

Innovation Solution

A system featuring a single rigid bumper mounted to the vehicle frame via a compliant mechanism, allowing for flexible deflection and sensing of collisions, which triggers a vehicle stop command through sensors and a controller.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If collapsible contact bumpers with large radii and shallow edges are used, then collision detection capability is improved, but integration difficulty into complex-shaped vehicles increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecollision detection capabilityVSAvoidintegration difficulty

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of making the bumper itself collapsible to absorb impact, the patent inverts the approach by using a rigid bumper that maintains its shape while the mounting mechanism (flexible couplings) absorbs the impact. This allows the bumper to have complex shapes with sharp edges for better collision detection while being easier to integrate into various vehicle designs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies dynamics by making the bumper mounting system flexible rather than rigid. The flexible couplings allow the rigid bumper to deflect and absorb impact forces dynamically, enabling the bumper to adapt to different vehicle shapes and collision scenarios while maintaining structural integrity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Adaptability or versatility

If a rigid bumper is used instead of collapsible, then bumper shape flexibility is improved, but impact absorption capability worsens

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebumper shape flexibilityVSAvoidimpact absorption capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces flexible couplings as an intermediary between the rigid bumper and the vehicle body. This intermediary component absorbs the impact forces while allowing the rigid bumper to maintain its shape and provide accurate collision detection, thus resolving the contradiction between shape flexibility and impact absorption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Loss of time

If bumper deflection is monitored by sensors, then vehicle stop response time is improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevehicle stop response timeVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements feedback by using sensors to monitor bumper deflection in real-time and immediately triggering a vehicle stop response when collision is detected. This feedback mechanism minimizes response time by directly linking the physical state of the bumper to the vehicle's motion control system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This solution reduces damage to vehicles and obstacles by enabling the detection of collisions on complex-shaped vehicles, allowing for flexible bumper designs that can extend beyond the vehicle periphery and apply restorative forces, effectively stopping the vehicle upon impact.

Implementation Method 1

one or more flexible couplings coupling the bumper assembly to the body, the one or more flexible couplings allowing for horizontal planar deflection of the bumper assembly relative to the body when the bumper assembly impacts an obstacle

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

the one or more flexible couplings apply a restorative force when the bumper assembly is in horizontal planar deflection that causes the bumper assembly to force toward the neutral position

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectRestorative force: Spring

Data Source

PatentUS11884223B2Ground vehicle bumper system

Publication Date: 2024.01.30 GOOGLE LLC

AI summary

A vehicle includes a body having a first outer periphery in a first plane parallel to a surface on which the vehicle moves in a horizontal direction; a bumper assembly having a second outer periphery in a second plane parallel to the first plane and including portions that extend beyond the first outer periphery; one or more flexible couplings coupling the bumper assembly to the body and allowing for horizontal planar deflection of the bumper assembly relative to the body when the bumper assembly impacts an obstacle; one or more sensors mounted to detect planar deflection of the bumper assembly and being configured to generate signals indicating the bumper assembly has deflected at least a threshold amount; and a drive system configured to propel the vehicle and, in response to the signals indicating the bumper assembly has deflected at least a threshold amount, cause the vehicle to stop moving.