AGV Sensor System Parallel Processing Magnetic Field Center
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Automated guided vehicles (AGVs) face challenges in accurately determining their location, position, and orientation relative to guiding systems, particularly in environments with varying electromagnetic interference and discrepancies between sensor units, which affects their navigation and operation efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A sensor system comprising a sensor housing and board with multiple sensor units, each including a sensor array, conditioning circuit, and conversion circuit, which interact with a magnetic indicating system on the ground, providing sensor readings that are processed to determine the center of the magnetic field and used for calibration to compensate for unit discrepancies, ensuring accurate navigation and operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If multiple sensor units are used to improve measurement accuracy, then location and position determination precision is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor system is divided into multiple sensor units, each with its own sensor array and processing circuitry. Each sensor unit independently processes magnetic field data from a specific region, allowing parallel processing and improved overall measurement accuracy through spatial distribution of sensing elements.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple sensor units are merged into a single integrated sensor board that communicates with the AGV's control system as one unified device. The sensor board consolidates data from all sensor units and performs centralized calibration and processing, reducing system complexity while maintaining the benefits of multiple sensing elements.
2Reliability
If sensor units are calibrated to compensate for inherent differences, then measurement reliability is improved, but calibration time and processing complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor system performs automatic calibration during the initialization phase before normal operation begins. The calibration process pre-determines offset values for each sensor element by exposing them to a known magnetic field reference, storing these values in memory for subsequent compensation during operation. This preliminary calibration action ensures reliable measurements without requiring time-consuming calibration during actual navigation.
3Stability of the object's composition
If offset values are stored in memory for each sensor element, then measurement consistency is improved, but memory requirements and data processing load increase
Solution Approach 1:
Each sensor element is assigned its own specific offset value stored in dedicated memory locations within the sensor board. This local storage approach allows each sensor element to independently compensate for its own characteristics while maintaining overall system consistency. The offset values are applied locally during signal processing, minimizing the need for extensive centralized data processing.
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 sensor system effectively determines the location, position, and orientation of AGVs with high precision, even in environments with electromagnetic interference, by calibrating sensor units to account for inherent differences and providing accurate navigation and operation data.
Implementation Method 1
A sensor system and method are provided that interact with a magnetic indicating system that is laid out on the ground
Data Source
AI summary
A sensor system (10) for use with an automated guided vehicle (AGV) includes a plurality of sensor units (20-26) electronically coupled to a sensor control module (28) via parallel communications (30). Each sensor unit (20-26) may include a sensor array (40-46) having a plurality of sensor elements (70-84), a conditioning circuit (50-56) having one or more filter/amplifiers (90-104), and a conversion circuit (60-66). The sensor control module (28) may be configured to communicate with other AGV components via serial communications (32). The sensor system (10) is capable of obtaining and storing sensor readings with or without associated offset values and can use the sensor readings to determine the center of a magnetic field (CF) using methods that require relatively little processing power. A method of calibrating the sensor system (10) may include determining and storing offset values for a plurality of sensor elements (70-84) and may be performed with the sensor system (10) installed or uninstalled to the AGV.