AGV Navigation and WIP Positioning for Flexible Assembly Layouts
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing AGV systems face challenges in effectively navigating within facilities, handling loads autonomously, and adapting to changing production facility layouts or work-in-progress piece designs, often requiring human intervention and physical modifications to define guidepaths.
Innovation Solution
An autonomous guided vehicle system with a mobile platform and onboard computing system that navigates using predefined paths and adjusts operations based on obstacle detection, allowing for autonomous mode switching and standby mode during work operations, facilitating flexible integration into production facilities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If AGV systems use predefined paths with markers or external guidance commands, then navigation capability is improved, but adaptability to changing facility layouts deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from static predefined paths to dynamic navigation using sensors and processors that detect obstacles and calculate alternative routes in real-time, allowing the AGV to adapt to changing facility layouts while maintaining reliable navigation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces mechanical guidance systems (physical markers and predefined paths) with electronic sensing and computational navigation systems, enabling flexible adaptation to layout changes without physical modifications
2Ease of operation
If AGV systems require human intervention for navigation and load handling, then ease of operation is improved, but productivity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The AGV system performs navigation and load handling autonomously using onboard sensors, processors, and control systems, eliminating the need for human operators while maintaining ease of operation through automated decision-making and execution
3Productivity
If AGV systems perform multiple work operations autonomously, then productivity is improved, but device complexity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The AGV system is designed with universal capabilities to perform multiple different work operations at various assembly stations through programmable control systems and interchangeable end effectors, increasing productivity without proportionally increasing physical complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses sensors and processors to continuously monitor work operation status and provide feedback for autonomous decision-making, enabling complex multi-operation tasks to be managed systematically rather than through increased hardware complexity
Data Source
AI summary
A method of guiding an autonomous guided vehicle (AGV) includes determine, by one or more processors of the AGV, that a first work operation performed at a first assembly station on a work-in-progress (WIP) piece coupled to the AGV has been completed; responsive to determining that the first work operation has been completed, switching, by the one or more processors, the AGV into an autonomy mode; navigating, by the one or more processors, the AGV to a second assembly station; determining, by the one or more processors, that the AGV has arrived at the second assembly station; adjusting, by the one or more processors, the WIP piece to facilitate a second work operation to be performed at the second assembly station; and switching, by the one or more processors, the AGV from the autonomy mode into a standby mode while the second work operation is performed on the WIP piece.