AGV Intersection Speed Control to Reduce Motor Load and Heat

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Solution Overview

Problem

Automated guided vehicles (AGVs) experience increased motor load and reduced lifespan due to repeated deceleration, stopping, and acceleration at intersections, leading to increased current draw and heat generation, which deteriorates lubricants and shortens motor lifespan.

Innovation Solution

A mobile object control apparatus that estimates collision risks at intersections and calculates optimal speeds for AGVs to avoid collisions, prioritizing motor lifespan and efficiency based on temperature and carrying capacity, while considering communication delays to adjust speeds and prevent excessive wear.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If automated guided vehicles use conventional intersection control, then collision avoidance is achieved, but motor lifespan is reduced due to repeated deceleration and acceleration

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecollision avoidanceVSAvoidmotor lifespan
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The control device performs preliminary actions by calculating optimal speeds and issuing instructions to AGVs before they reach the intersection. This allows smooth deceleration and acceleration rather than abrupt stops and starts, reducing motor load and extending lifespan while maintaining collision avoidance

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts the speeds of AGVs based on real-time conditions such as distance to intersection, communication quality, and carrying capacity. This dynamic speed adjustment enables smooth transitions that reduce motor stress while maintaining safe intersection passage

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Productivity

If AGVs maintain high speed for efficiency, then productivity increases, but collision risk at intersections increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemoving efficiencyVSAvoidcollision avoidance
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The control device dynamically determines optimal speeds that balance productivity and safety. AGVs receive speed instructions that maintain high efficiency when safe, while automatically reducing speed when approaching intersections or when communication quality decreases, thus maintaining both productivity and collision avoidance

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Reliability

If AGVs decelerate and stop frequently to avoid collisions, then safety is maintained, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovesafetyVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The control device calculates optimal speeds in advance and issues instructions before AGVs reach critical points. This preliminary action allows AGVs to maintain smoother motion profiles that reduce energy consumption from frequent stopping and starting while maintaining safety through proactive speed management

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP4130916B1Moving body control device, moving body control method, and computer-readable recording medium
Publication Date: 2025.01.01 NEC CORP
  • EP4130916B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4130916B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4130916B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A mobile object control apparatus 10 includes: an estimation unit 11 configured to estimate whether or not a target first mobile object 20a and a second mobile object 20b that is highly likely to collide with the first mobile object 20a will collide with each other at an intersection; a calculation unit 12 configured to calculate, if it is estimated that the first mobile object 20a and the second mobile object 20b will collide with each other at the intersection, a speed of the first mobile object 20a and a speed of the second mobile object 20b at which a collision at the intersection is avoidable, based on a collision avoidance condition set in advance; and a selection unit 13 configured to select the speed of the first mobile object 20a and the speed of the second mobile object 20b calculated by the calculation unit 12, based on surrounding temperatures of drive motors of the first mobile object 20a and the second mobile object 20b, or carrying capacities of the first mobile object 20a and the second mobile object 20b, or both the surrounding temperatures and the carrying capacities.