AGV Travel Management with Arrival-Region Command Handover
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing automated guided vehicle (AGV) systems do not effectively control the travel of AGVs, leading to intermittent operations as they stop at each target location to perform preprocessing computations before moving to the next location, resulting in inefficient and non-continuous travel.
Innovation Solution
A management system that includes a travel management apparatus and AGVs equipped with communication circuits, allowing AGVs to transmit notifications of arrival at defined regions, enabling the apparatus to generate and transmit next commands before reaching the target location, allowing preprocessing computations to be completed en route, thus enabling continuous operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the AGV waits until arrival at target location to perform preprocessing computations, then computation accuracy is ensured, but travel continuity is broken causing intermittent operations
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preprocessing computations for the next target location before the AGV arrives at the current target location. The travel management apparatus receives notification of arrival at a target location and immediately begins preprocessing computations while the AGV is still en route, allowing the AGV to maintain continuous motion without stopping for computations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system ensures continuous travel operation by overlapping the preprocessing computation period with the travel period. The AGV travels to the current target location while the system simultaneously prepares computation data for the next target location, eliminating idle time and maintaining uninterrupted useful action.
2Reliability
If the AGV stops at each target location for preprocessing computations, then computation reliability is improved, but travel efficiency decreases due to frequent stoppages
Solution Approach 1:
Preprocessing computations are initiated in advance while the AGV is traveling to the current target location. The system receives notification of arrival and immediately starts preparing computation data for the next location, ensuring computation reliability is maintained through proper processing while avoiding stoppages that would reduce travel efficiency.
3Measurement precision
If preprocessing computations are performed after arrival at target location, then data accuracy is ensured, but operational smoothness deteriorates due to stoppages
Solution Approach 1:
The system maintains continuous operational flow by performing preprocessing computations during the travel period rather than after arrival. The AGV moves smoothly from one location to the next while computation processes run concurrently in the background, eliminating disruptive stoppages and maintaining operational smoothness without compromising data accuracy.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
A management system which manages travel of at least one vehicle is provided. The management system (100) includes a vehicle (10) and a travel management apparatus (20) to manage travel of the vehicle. The vehicle includes motors (16a through 16d), a drive unit (17) to move the vehicle by controlling the motors, a first communication circuit (14d), and a control circuit (14a). The travel management apparatus includes a signal processing circuit (21) to generate an nth command for causing the vehicle to move from an n (n: a positive integer)th location to an (n+1)th location and a second communication circuit (24). When the vehicle arrives in a region defined for the (n+1)th location while moving from the nth location toward the (n+1)th location, the vehicle transmits a notification of arrival-in-region to the travel management apparatus. Upon receiving the notification of arrival-in-region, the travel management apparatus generates an (n+1)th command for causing the vehicle to move from the (n+1)th location to an (n+2)th location, and transmits it to the vehicle.