AGV Indicator Imaging for Disturbance-Light State Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for determining the lighting states of indicators on automatic guided vehicles fail to accurately identify lit and unlit states in environments with high illumination or disturbance light, such as factories with sunlight, leading to incorrect determination of vehicle states.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a traveling vehicle system with indicators that include both lit and unlit states in captured images, using a controller to determine lighting states based on luminance values from multiple measurement points and switching references for accurate determination, even in environments with disturbance light.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional determination method using single indicator is used, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision deteriorates in high illumination environments
Solution Approach 1:
The indicator is divided into multiple segments: a first indicator for state notification and a second indicator for reference. This segmentation allows the system to separate the functions of information display and measurement reference, enabling accurate determination of lighting states even in high illumination environments by comparing the second indicator's known states against the captured image luminance values.
Solution Approach 2:
The second indicator acts as an intermediary reference object that provides known luminance states (both lit and unlit) in the captured image. This intermediary allows the determination unit to establish reference luminance values for comparing against the first indicator, thereby enabling accurate lighting state determination despite disturbance light from high illumination environments.
2Reliability
If single indicator is used, then device complexity is reduced, but reliability deteriorates in environments with disturbance light
Solution Approach 1:
The indicator system is segmented into a first indicator for state notification and a second indicator for reference. This segmentation ensures that the second indicator can provide stable reference luminance values unaffected by the functional state changes of the first indicator, thereby improving reliability of lighting state determination in environments with disturbance light.
Solution Approach 2:
The determination unit uses the second indicator to establish reference luminance values that feed back into the comparison process for determining the first indicator's state. This feedback mechanism allows the system to dynamically adapt to illumination conditions and maintain reliable determination even when disturbance light varies.
3Adaptability or versatility
If conventional single reference method is used, then device complexity is reduced, but adaptability deteriorates in varying illumination conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The determination method is segmented into acquiring reference luminance values from the second indicator and comparing the first indicator's luminance against these references. This segmentation enables the system to adapt to varying illumination conditions by continuously using the second indicator as a stable reference, regardless of changes in ambient light or disturbance light levels.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameter of reference luminance values dynamically by acquiring them from the second indicator in each captured image. This allows the determination method to adapt to varying illumination conditions by updating reference values based on current environmental lighting, thereby maintaining accuracy across different operational contexts.
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 configuration allows for accurate determination of lighting states in environments influenced by disturbance light, ensuring reliable vehicle control and state notification, even in high-illumination conditions.
Implementation Method 1
an imager to capture an image of a preceding traveling vehicle located in front of a subject traveling vehicle to include the indicator provided to the preceding traveling vehicle in the captured image
Implementation Method 2
the controller determines the lighting states of the indicator based on a luminance value of a portion corresponding to the indicator in the lit state and a luminance value of a portion corresponding to the indicator in the unlit state in the captured image
Data Source
AI summary
A traveling vehicle operable to travel along a predetermined travel path, and includes an indicator with switchable lighting states, an imager to capture an image of a preceding traveling vehicle located in front of a subject traveling vehicle to include the indicator provided to the preceding traveling vehicle in the captured image, and a controller to control traveling of the subject traveling vehicle based on a determination result of the lighting states of the indicator included in the captured image. The indicator includes a first indicator to notify a state of the subject traveling vehicle, and a second indicator to include both images of the indicator in a lit state and the indicator in an unlit state in the captured image.