Modular Vehicle Navigation Using Sensor-Guided Assembly Pathways
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Solution Overview
Problem
The high cost and capital expenditure associated with building conveyer systems or adapting automatic guided vehicles (AGVs) for specific tasks in vehicle assembly plants, as well as the challenge of manufacturing different product configurations in the same assembly facility, are significant issues in current vehicle assembly line operations.
Innovation Solution
A navigation system for remote control movement of modular vehicle subassemblies (MVSs) through assembly zones, featuring a predefined primary pathway, sensors, zone controllers, and a central management system with a navigation algorithm, which uses proximity and visual data to adjust the movement of MVSs and manage assembly operations, reducing the need for extensive infrastructure changes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conveyor systems or AGVs are used to move vehicle subassemblies, then productivity and automated assembly are improved, but capital expenditure and device complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical conveyor systems with autonomous vehicles that use sensors, processors, and drive mechanisms to navigate and transport vehicle subassemblies. This substitution eliminates the need for extensive mechanical infrastructure while maintaining automated movement and assembly capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The autonomous vehicles are equipped with onboard sensors, processors, and navigation systems that enable them to independently navigate the assembly facility, detect their position, and transport subassemblies without requiring external control systems or fixed infrastructure.
2Productivity
If conveyor systems are built to support projected assembly volume, then productivity is improved, but capital expenditure and loss of time for infrastructure construction increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses dynamically controllable autonomous vehicles that can be programmed and reconfigured through software to adapt to different assembly volumes and product configurations. This eliminates the need for time-consuming physical infrastructure modifications when production requirements change.
Solution Approach 2:
The autonomous vehicles can change their operational parameters through software programming, allowing the same physical platform to support different assembly volumes and configurations by simply updating control algorithms rather than building new infrastructure.
3Productivity
If AGVs are adapted for specific application tasks, then productivity for specific tasks is improved, but device complexity and adaptation costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The autonomous vehicle platform is designed with universal components including standardized sensors, processors, and drive mechanisms that can perform multiple assembly tasks. The same vehicle can be reprogrammed to handle different vehicle subassemblies and assembly operations without requiring physical modifications or specialized adaptations.
Data Source
AI summary
A navigation system for remote control movement of modular vehicle subassemblies (MVSs) through a plurality of assembly zones of a vehicle assembly facility includes a predefined primary pathway configured for the MVSs to move along during assembly of top hats on the MVSs, a plurality of sensors, a plurality of zone controllers, and a central management system with a navigation algorithm. The plurality of sensors are configured to transmit at least one of proximity data and visual data on the MVSs moving through the plurality of assembly zones to the plurality of zone controllers. The central management system is configured to be in communication with each of the plurality of zone controllers and the navigation algorithm is configured to receive the at least one of proximity data and visual data and calculate movement instructions for remote control movement of the MVSs moving through the plurality of assembly zones.