Autonomous Cargo Transport Vehicle Coordination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current automated driving technologies face challenges in coordinating and managing automated vehicles within cargo and distribution networks, particularly in efficiently transporting and handling cargo containers in a coordinated and automated manner with minimal user interaction.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of an autonomous transport system that includes a dispatch system, autonomous transport vehicles equipped with processors, location circuits, communication modules, and automatic cargo connection systems, which align, hitch, and connect with cargo containers using air mechanisms and adapter boxes for pneumatic and electrical coupling, enabling automated transportation and coordination within facilities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If automated vehicles are used to transport cargo containers, then productivity is improved, but device complexity increases due to the need for autonomous navigation and coordination systems
Solution Approach 1:
A central coordination system acts as an intermediary between multiple autonomous vehicles and cargo containers, managing navigation, docking, and transportation tasks. This centralizes the complexity of coordination while keeping individual vehicles relatively simple, resolving the contradiction between automation benefits and system complexity.
2Ease of operation
If autonomous transport vehicles with automatic connection systems are deployed, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases due to automated alignment and coupling mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The autonomous transport vehicle is equipped with self-aligning and self-coupling mechanisms that automatically position and connect to cargo containers without human intervention. The vehicle performs its own alignment using sensors and actuators, and automatically engages coupling mechanisms, enabling ease of operation while containing complexity within the vehicle itself.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary alignment and positioning actions before the actual coupling operation. Sensors detect the cargo container position in advance, and the vehicle adjusts its position and orientation beforehand to ensure proper alignment, making the subsequent coupling operation simpler and more reliable.
3Manufacturing precision
If automated alignment and coupling mechanisms are used, then manufacturing precision is improved, but device complexity increases due to sensors and actuators required
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor and actuator systems are designed to perform multiple functions: alignment, positioning, coupling, and even cargo monitoring. By making these components multi-functional, the patent reduces the overall number of separate systems needed, thereby achieving high precision while managing device complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for coordinating container transportation. A method of autonomously transporting a cargo container includes aligning a distribution vehicle with the cargo container. The distribution vehicle is aligned with and hitched to the cargo container. An attachment can be connected to the cargo container for mating systems of the cargo container with the distribution vehicle. A system has inputs for vehicle and container location, arrival and departure times, facility plans, and can coordinate the autonomous movement of containers in a facility or a yard.