Mobile Sensor Robots for Automated Vehicle Trajectory Steering
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Solution Overview
Problem
The challenge of efficiently relocating vehicles in designated areas, such as industrial parking lots and production plants, is exacerbated by the need for automation in logistics management, particularly for vehicles that are not sufficiently autonomous or equipped with suitable sensors, requiring new logistics solutions to optimize vehicle transport.
Innovation Solution
A method and system utilizing movable sensors, preferably ground robots, to update the configuration of the designated area by generating detection signals, allowing for the planning of vehicle trajectories to destination positions, and enabling automated vehicle relocation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If static sensors are deployed throughout the designated area to monitor vehicle positions and plan trajectories, then complete area coverage and real-time detection are improved, but the number of sensors required and system complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the sensor system from static to dynamic by deploying mobile ground robots that move across the designated area. These robots continuously change their positions to monitor vehicle locations, update area configurations, and support trajectory planning. This dynamic approach replaces the need for numerous fixed sensors with a smaller fleet of mobile sensing units that can cover the entire area through coordinated movement.
2Measurement precision
If a large number of sensors are deployed to ensure complete coverage of the designated area, then detection accuracy is improved, but the cost and maintenance requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The mobile ground robots serve multiple functions: they monitor vehicle positions, map the designated area, detect obstacles, and provide navigation support to automated vehicles. Each robot is equipped with sensors that perform various detection tasks, allowing a single mobile unit to replace multiple specialized static sensors. This multi-functionality reduces the total number of sensors needed while maintaining comprehensive area coverage.
3Ease of manufacture
If sensors are positioned at fixed locations to monitor vehicle trajectories, then installation and maintenance are simplified, but the ability to fine-tune sensor positions for optimal detection is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs mobile ground robots that can dynamically adjust their positions within the designated area based on real-time requirements. The central control unit directs these robots to optimal locations for monitoring specific events, such as vehicle movements or potential collisions. This dynamic positioning capability provides both ease of deployment (robots self-navigate to assigned positions) and high adaptability (positions can be changed on-demand without physical reinstallation).
Data Source
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Figure 2B
AI summary
The invention is notably directed to a method of steering automated vehicles (20, 20a) in a designated area (10), thanks to movable sensors, which preferably are sensing robots designed as partly autonomous ground vehicles (30 - 34). The method comprises the following steps, which are preferably performed by a central control unit. First, the movable sensors (30 - 34) are instructed to move across the designated area (10) for the movable sensors to sense at least a part of the designated area and generate corresponding detection signals. A configuration of the designated area (10) is then updated based on the generated detection signals. This configuration may for instance include a list of objects and respective (e.g., 2D) positions in the designated area, where the objects include the vehicles (20, 20a) and other objects, such as the movable sensors. In turn, the updated configuration makes it possible to plan one or more vehicle trajectories (25) from one or more current positions to one or more destination positions in the designated area. The one or more vehicle trajectories (25) are then transmitted to respective ones of the automated vehicles (20a) for them to automatically drive to the one or more destination positions.