Variable Detection Area for Article Transport Vehicle Obstacle Sensor
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Solution Overview
Problem
In article transport facilities where multiple vehicles travel along a track, existing obstacle detection systems can hinder vehicle travel efficiency by excessively detecting preceding vehicles or blocking devices as obstacles, leading to unnecessary stops or reduced inter-vehicle distance, thus reducing facility operating efficiency.
Innovation Solution
The article transport vehicle is equipped with an obstacle sensor having a detection area that includes at least the width of the vehicle and expands in the advancing direction, with a variable length set to be less than the front inter-object distance, allowing for accurate detection of obstacles without interfering with smooth vehicle travel by adjusting the detection area based on the front inter-vehicle distance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the obstacle sensor has a fixed detection area that includes the width of the vehicle and expands in the advancing direction, then the vehicle can detect obstacles that may come into contact with it, but it may erroneously detect preceding vehicles or blocking devices as obstacles, reducing travel efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The detection area length is made variable rather than fixed. The control unit dynamically adjusts the length of the detection area in the advancing direction based on the front inter-object distance to preceding vehicles or blocking devices. This allows the system to maintain reliable obstacle detection while avoiding erroneous detection of normal track objects, thus resolving the contradiction between detection reliability and operational productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameter of detection area length based on the front inter-object distance. By adjusting this parameter dynamically, the obstacle sensor can differentiate between actual obstacles and normal track objects like preceding vehicles or blocking devices, thereby maintaining both accurate obstacle detection and smooth vehicle travel without unnecessary stops.
2Reliability
If the detection area length is set to be less than the front inter-object distance, then erroneous detection of preceding vehicles is reduced, but the detection area must be dynamically adjusted based on varying distances
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit performs multiple functions: it calculates the front inter-object distance using position information from position detection units, determines whether the distance is within a predetermined range, and adjusts the detection area length accordingly. This multi-functional approach integrates obstacle detection management with existing position detection systems, reducing the need for separate complex control mechanisms while achieving reliable erroneous detection prevention.
3Measurement precision
If the obstacle sensor detection area is expanded to cover the vehicle width and advance direction, then contact obstacles are detected accurately, but the smooth travel of vehicles is hindered by excessive detection of non-obstacle objects
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the detection area length based on real-time position information and front inter-object distance. This dynamic adjustment allows the detection area to be sufficiently large to detect actual contact obstacles while being reduced when preceding vehicles or blocking devices are present, thereby maintaining both detection precision and smooth vehicle travel without unnecessary interruptions.
Data Source
AI summary
An article transport vehicle includes an obstacle sensor having a detection area that includes at least the width of the own vehicle and that expands in the advancing direction, controls the travel of the own vehicle, based on as front inter-object distance corresponding to own-vehicle position information indicating a position of the own vehicle and front object position information indicating a position on a track of a front object that is located in front of the own vehicle and whose position on the track is specified, and sets a length of the detection area E along the advancing direction of the obstacle sensor to be variable according to the front inter-object distance such that the length is less than the front inter-object distance.