Automated Guided Vehicle Safety Zone Control in Mixed Traffic
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Solution Overview
Problem
Automated guided vehicles face limitations in scalability due to the requirement of unmanned operating zones, particularly in outdoor environments where they struggle with adverse weather, complex road networks, and mixed traffic scenarios, which increases the risk of collisions with moving objects like people.
Innovation Solution
The method involves an automated guided vehicle equipped with a detection system using LiDAR scanners to identify objects within a predetermined safety zone, allowing for real-time adjustments in speed and steering to prevent collisions, including the use of an electromotor for safety stops and a planning zone that covers potential swept paths, enabling safe operation in mixed traffic environments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If automated guided vehicles operate in mixed traffic zones with people and other road users, then versatility and adaptability improve, but collision risk and safety hazards increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by establishing a safety zone around the vehicle before actual movement occurs. The detection system continuously monitors for objects within this pre-defined safety perimeter, and the control system is prepared to execute emergency stopping procedures before a collision can occur. This proactive approach allows the vehicle to operate in mixed traffic zones by preventing harmful interactions before they happen.
Solution Approach 2:
The safety zone acts as an intermediary buffer between the automated guided vehicle and surrounding objects including people and other road users. This virtual barrier zone, maintained through continuous detection and control adjustments, mediates the interaction between the vehicle and mixed traffic elements, allowing close proximity operation while preventing direct contact and collision.
2Reliability
If the safety zone perimeter is extended to cover all potential swept paths, then collision prevention capability improves, but the space required for vehicle operation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The safety zone perimeter is made dynamic rather than static. It continuously adapts its size and shape based on the vehicle's current movement parameters including speed, steering angle, and acceleration. When the vehicle moves faster or steers sharply, the safety zone expands to cover the extended swept path; when the vehicle moves slowly or steadily, the zone contracts. This dynamic adjustment maintains comprehensive collision prevention while minimizing the space required during normal operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameters defining the safety zone perimeter in real-time based on vehicle movement characteristics. The perimeter distance varies as a function of speed, steering angle, and other motion parameters. This parameter-based adaptation allows the safety zone to precisely cover only the necessary swept paths for current operating conditions, optimizing both safety and space utilization.
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 solution significantly reduces the risk of collisions between the automated guided vehicle and moving objects, allowing it to operate safely in diverse conditions, including mixed traffic scenarios and adverse weather, by dynamically adjusting its movement parameters and safety zones.
Implementation Method 1
The automated guided vehicle (1) is equipped with a detection system (3), in this case a LiDAR detection system, which is arranged for detecting an object (11)
Data Source
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Figure 2
AI summary
An automated guided vehicle and a method for operating said automated guided vehicle comprising the steps of: - determining one of a vehicle movement parameter of said automated guided vehicle, and a safety zone comprising a perimeter surrounding said automated guided vehicle that covers potential swept paths of said automated guided vehicle during a safety stop of said automated guided vehicle; - setting the other of said vehicle movement parameter and said safety zone based on said determined one of said vehicle movement parameter and said safety zone.