AGV Secondary Positioning Using Magnetic Tape Offset Sensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Automatic guided vehicles (AGVs) face challenges in secondary positioning due to poor repeatability of actual stop positions, which affects coupling with peripheral equipment, and existing solutions like visual servo and SLAM require extensive data processing or are sensitive to environmental conditions.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus and method utilizing magnetic sensors to measure misalignment between the AGV and magnetic tapes, generating offset signals to adjust the vehicle's positioning, either by shifting the AGV or its peripheral equipment, ensuring accurate and repeatable secondary positioning without environmental limitations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If visual servo or SLAM methods are used for secondary positioning, then positioning accuracy can be improved, but the system complexity and data processing requirements increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential positioning information needed for secondary positioning by using magnetic sensors to detect offset from magnetic tapes, rather than implementing complex visual servo or SLAM systems that process extensive environmental data. This extraction approach achieves positioning accuracy while significantly reducing system complexity and data processing requirements
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex optical and computational systems (visual servo, SLAM) with a simpler magnetic field-based measurement system. By substituting mechanical/optical complexity with magnetic sensing, the system achieves reliable positioning with reduced computational burden and system complexity
2Measurement precision
If visual servo or SLAM methods are used for secondary positioning, then positioning accuracy can be improved, but the processing time and computational load increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the critical offset information from magnetic tapes using simple magnetic sensors, avoiding the extensive data processing required by visual servo or SLAM methods. This extraction strategy maintains positioning accuracy while dramatically reducing computational load and processing time
Solution Approach 2:
The patent skips the complex intermediate processing stages of visual servo and SLAM by directly measuring offset with magnetic sensors. This approach rushes through the positioning task using a streamlined method that achieves accuracy without the time-consuming computational steps of alternative systems
3Reliability
If visual servo or SLAM methods are used for secondary positioning, then positioning capability can be improved, but the system becomes sensitive to environmental conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces magnetic tapes as an intermediary reference system that provides a stable, environment-resistant measurement baseline. By using magnetic field interactions between sensors and tapes as a mediator, the system achieves reliable positioning that is insensitive to environmental conditions like lighting, dust, or obstacles that affect visual systems
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces environmentally vulnerable optical systems with magnetic field-based sensing. This substitution eliminates sensitivity to visual environmental factors while maintaining positioning reliability, as magnetic fields penetrate obstacles and are unaffected by lighting or dust conditions
4Productivity
If magnetic sensors are used for secondary positioning, then the response speed and adjusting range are improved, but the measurement precision may be affected by magnetic interference
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs shielding structures and magnetic filtering techniques as beforehand cushioning measures to protect against magnetic interference. By pre-implementing these protective measures, the system maintains fast response speeds while ensuring measurement precision is not degraded by environmental magnetic fields or other interference sources
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
The solution provides robust and reliable secondary positioning with a large adjusting range, fast response, and reliable measurement signals, ensuring consistent coupling of AGVs with peripheral equipment across various applications and environments.
Implementation Method 1
the navigation is realized through magnetic induction signals
Data Source
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AI summary
An apparatus (100) and method for secondary positioning of a vehicle (200), an automatic guided vehicle (200), and an automatic guided system (220). The apparatus (100) for secondary positioning of a vehicle (200) comprises: a first magnetic sensor (104) disposed on the vehicle (200) and configured to measure a first misalignment between the first magnetic sensor (104) and a first magnetic tape (212) after the vehicle (200) changes from travelling to stop and to generate a first offset signal representing the first misalignment, wherein the first magnetic tape (212) extends in a direction intersecting with a travelling path (P) of the vehicle (200); and a controller (102) configured to control the vehicle (200) based at least in part on the first offset signal to thereby adjust a positioning of the vehicle (200) and/or a peripheral equipment (120) associated with the vehicle (200).