Autonomous Transporting Tool Guiding Line Navigation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing automated parking systems face challenges in navigating vehicles without under-surface installations, requiring accurate adjustment of lifting elements to accommodate varying vehicle sizes and axle distances, and suffer from limited maneuverability due to complex and costly extendible designs.
Innovation Solution
An autonomous transporting tool comprising two elements with autonomous propulsion, optical systems, steering mechanisms, and wireless communication, allowing for precise navigation and adjustment along guiding lines without under-surface installations, and capable of adapting to a wide range of vehicle lengths.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If RF transmitting wires are installed underneath the floor surface to guide transporting tools, then navigation along predefined paths is enabled, but installation becomes very expensive and time-consuming requiring drilling grooves in existing floors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the guiding function from the floor structure by using independent portable guiding lines (tape measures, ropes, or strings) that can be laid on the floor surface without any installation. These guiding lines are separate from the building infrastructure, allowing easy deployment and removal without drilling or modifying the floor.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary optical system (cameras and image processing) that mediates between the transporting tool and the guiding line. Instead of direct RF wire guidance, the system captures images of the guiding line, processes them to determine line position and orientation, and uses this information for navigation, enabling wireless and flexible guidance.
2Device complexity
If the transporting tool uses a single rigid structure to transport vehicles, then structural simplicity is maintained, but adaptability to different vehicle sizes and axle distances is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The transporting tool is divided into two separate transporting tool elements (TTEs) that operate independently but coordinate through wireless communication. Each TTE has its own autonomous propulsion and optical systems, allowing them to adjust their positions and distances independently to accommodate different vehicle lengths and axle configurations.
Solution Approach 2:
The distance between the two transporting tool elements is made dynamically adjustable rather than fixed. The elements can change their relative positioning to match different vehicle dimensions, and the system includes mechanisms for real-time adjustment during operation to adapt to various vehicle types.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the transporting tool elements are mechanically connected for coordinated movement, then structural stability is improved, but maneuverability and ability to navigate tight spaces deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Wireless communication acts as an intermediary between the two transporting tool elements, replacing mechanical connections for coordination. The elements exchange position and navigation data wirelessly, maintaining coordination stability without physical linkages that would restrict maneuverability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical connection system with an optical-wireless communication system. Cameras and image processing replace mechanical linkages for maintaining relative positioning, and wireless data transmission replaces mechanical synchronization, enabling greater freedom of movement while maintaining coordination.
4Adaptability or versatility
If extendible designs are used to accommodate varying vehicle lengths, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using extendible mechanisms within a single rigid structure, the system segments the transporting tool into two independent elements. This allows the effective length to be adjusted by changing the distance between elements rather than physically extending a structure, avoiding complex extendible mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses dynamic repositioning of the two transporting tool elements to accommodate different vehicle lengths. Rather than mechanical extension, the elements move independently to the required separation distance, controlled by wireless communication and navigation systems, simplifying the overall design.
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
Enables efficient and accurate vehicle transportation with high maneuverability, reducing installation costs and complexity by allowing precise navigation and adjustment without under-surface installations, and accommodating varying vehicle sizes and axle distances.
Implementation Method 1
The processor is adapted to identify the position and orientation of the TTE relative to the guiding line on the basis of the image
Implementation Method 2
a first lighting unit... directed to illuminate the field of view each of its respective camera
Data Source
AI summary
An autonomous transporting tool is adapted to travel along a guiding line. The tool comprises two transporting elements. Each of the transporting elements comprise autonomous propulsion means, a control system and an optical system. The optical system comprises two cameras and two lighting units. The system is adapted to identify the location of the image of a guiding line within a received image of the floor and to provide steering commands adapted to steer the transporting tool so that the image of the guiding line is located substantially in the center of the received image.