Forklift-to-AGV Load Platform Transfer to Reduce Impact Damage
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current load transfer processes between manual industrial trucks and autonomous vehicles are inefficient and prone to damaging the autonomous vehicle due to high impacts and forces during load transfer, especially when manual trucks need to transfer loads to autonomous vehicles with limited mechanical adaptation.
Innovation Solution
A control system that coordinates the industrial truck and autonomous vehicle to set the load handler to a transfer height, drive the autonomous vehicle under the load handler, raise the load platform to match the transfer height, and transfer the load, thereby minimizing manual intervention and reducing the risk of damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If manual industrial trucks transfer loads directly to autonomous vehicles, then load transfer efficiency is improved, but the autonomous vehicle is damaged due to high impacts and forces
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediate load platform on the autonomous vehicle that acts as a buffer between the industrial truck's load handler and the vehicle body. This platform absorbs impacts and forces during load transfer, protecting the autonomous vehicle while enabling direct high-efficiency load transfer without traditional intermediate loading stations.
Solution Approach 2:
The load platform is designed with cushioning capabilities to preemptively absorb impacts before they reach the autonomous vehicle's sensitive components. This prior cushioning allows manual trucks to transfer loads at high speeds and heights without causing damage, resolving the contradiction between transfer efficiency and vehicle protection.
2Reliability
If intermediate loading stations are used for load transfer, then the autonomous vehicle is protected from damage, but the system complexity and transfer time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the protective function of intermediate loading stations with the autonomous vehicle itself by equipping the vehicle with an integrated load platform. This eliminates the need for separate, complex mechanical intermediate structures while maintaining vehicle protection, thereby reducing system complexity and transfer time.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the essential protective function from complex intermediate loading stations and implements it directly on the autonomous vehicle through a simplified load platform. This extraction removes unnecessary mechanical complexity while preserving the damage protection capability.
3Productivity
If the load platform is raised to match transfer height, then the load transfer is enabled, but the lifting force required increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the load platform's lifting parameters by adjusting the platform height incrementally and coordinating the lifting speed with the load transfer process. This parameter optimization enables the platform to reach the required transfer height while minimizing the peak lifting force, resolving the contradiction between transfer capability and force requirements.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
The invention relates to a system and a method for load transfer using a forklift (MT, AMT) with a height-adjustable load handling device (LM) and a flat, autonomous vehicle (AT) with a liftable load platform (P). It is proposed that the system includes a control system configured to control a sequence of at least the following steps: a) adjusting the load handling device (LM) of the forklift (MT, AMT) to a transfer height, b) the autonomous vehicle (AT) passing under the load handling device (LM) of the forklift (MT, AMT), c) raising the load platform (P) of the autonomous vehicle (AT) to at least the transfer height and transferring the load (L), and d) separating the forklift (MT, AMT) and the autonomous vehicle (AT).