AGV Group Movement Control in Overcrowded Spaces
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Automatic guided vehicles (AGVs) operate inefficiently in overcrowded conditions due to limitations in obstacle detection range and lack of efficient configurations for simultaneous operation, leading to potential collisions and reduced efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A self-propelled device system that acquires movement vectors and distance information for nearby devices, determining whether group movement is possible based on proximity, speed, and direction, allowing for controlled adjustments to avoid collisions and optimize movement paths.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the range of detection of obstacles is extended in accordance with movement speed, then safety is improved, but it is not possible to operate under the influence of proximity sensors in an overcrowded state and step-by-step operation is required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the detection range adaptive rather than fixed. The control device dynamically adjusts the detection range based on the movement speeds of multiple self-propelled devices. When devices are stationary or moving slowly, the detection range is extended to ensure safety. When devices are moving quickly, the detection range is adjusted accordingly. This dynamic adjustment allows the system to maintain safety while operating efficiently in overcrowded states without requiring step-by-step operation.
2Productivity
If multiple automatic guided vehicles operate simultaneously, then productivity is improved, but configurations and operations for efficiently operating them are not disclosed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies merging by integrating the control functions for multiple self-propelled devices into a single control device. This control device performs centralized management by acquiring movement speed information from all devices and calculating appropriate detection ranges that account for all devices' positions and speeds. This unified control approach enables multiple devices to operate simultaneously and efficiently without requiring complex distributed coordination protocols, thus improving productivity while managing system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies feedback by continuously monitoring the movement speeds of all self-propelled devices and using this information to dynamically adjust detection ranges. The control device receives speed information from each device, processes this data to determine appropriate detection parameters, and adjusts the detection ranges accordingly. This closed-loop feedback mechanism enables efficient coordination of multiple devices, allowing them to operate simultaneously while maintaining safety and optimizing productivity.
3Area of stationary object
If self-propelled devices operate in overcrowded conditions, then space utilization is improved, but collision risk increases due to limited obstacle detection range
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by dynamically adjusting the detection range parameter based on the movement speeds of self-propelled devices. In overcrowded conditions, the control device calculates detection ranges that are appropriate for the current speed parameters of all devices. When devices are moving slowly or are stationary, the detection range is extended to ensure collision avoidance. When devices are moving quickly, the detection range is adjusted to match the higher speeds. This parameter adjustment allows the system to maintain both high space utilization and reliable collision avoidance in overcrowded environments.
Data Source
AI summary
A self-propelled device includes a host device movement vector acquisition unit that is configured to acquire a host device movement vector including a movement speed of the self-propelled device and a distance information acquisition unit that is configured to acquire nearby device distance information including a distance and a direction to the self-propelled device for each of nearby devices located near the self-propelled device. The self-propelled device further includes a nearby device movement vector acquisition unit that is configured to acquire a nearby device movement vector including a movement speed and a movement direction of each of the nearby devices for each of the nearby devices and a determination unit that is configured to determine whether a group movement is possible or not for each of the nearby devices based on the nearby device distance information, the host device movement vector and the nearby device movement vector.