Navigation Alignment System for Autonomous Material Handling Vehicles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Material handling vehicles (MHVs) face challenges in navigating autonomously into and out of trailers due to poor lighting, weak wireless communication, and unknown layouts, which hinder their ability to accurately align and maneuver.
Innovation Solution
A navigation alignment system comprising a housing with a navigation controller, lighting system, reflectors, communication system, and rollers, which assists MHVs in aligning and navigating by providing directional Wi-Fi and lighting, enabling autonomous operation within trailers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If autonomous navigation sensors are implemented on MHV, then autonomous navigation capability is improved, but navigation accuracy in enclosed spaces deteriorates due to poor lighting and weak wireless communication
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a navigation alignment system as an intermediary between the MHV and the enclosed space. This system includes alignment sensors that detect reference markers in the environment and provide positional feedback to the MHV, enabling accurate navigation in enclosed spaces where direct sensor-to-target communication is weak or blocked.
Solution Approach 2:
The navigation system is segmented into multiple independent components: autonomous navigation sensors on the MHV, alignment sensors and reference markers in the environment, and a control system that integrates data from both. This segmentation allows each component to specialize in specific functions and work together to overcome individual limitations.
2Productivity
If MHV navigates autonomously into enclosed spaces, then operational efficiency is improved, but alignment precision deteriorates due to unknown layouts and poor visibility
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-installing reference markers in the enclosed space and pre-configuring the alignment sensor system before MHV navigation begins. This preparation enables rapid and accurate alignment when the MHV enters the enclosed space, without requiring real-time complex calculations or manual intervention.
3Ease of operation
If navigation alignment system is installed in enclosed spaces, then navigation assistance is improved, but system complexity increases due to multiple sensors and communication systems
Solution Approach 1:
The navigation alignment system is designed with multi-functionality: the same infrastructure (reference markers and alignment sensors) serves both as positional reference for navigation and as communication relay points. This universal design reduces the need for separate specialized systems, thereby reducing overall complexity despite the multiple components involved.
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
The system enhances MHV navigation by ensuring alignment with trailers, maintaining wireless connectivity, and providing lighting, thereby enabling efficient autonomous loading and unloading operations.
Implementation Method 1
a lighting system including at least one directable light to provide lighting to at least a portion of the navigation area
Implementation Method 2
at least one reflector coupled to the housing, to provide a reflective surface for the MHV to detect and/or align relative to
Implementation Method 3
a communication system coupled to the housing, including at least one antenna, the communication system to provide the directional Wi-Fi to at least a portion of the navigation area via the at least one antenna
Data Source
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AI summary
The present disclosure generally relates to navigation alignment systems and methods for assisting material handling vehicles (MHVs), specifically in the navigation of the MHVs maneuver into, out of, or within a navigation space.