Material Handling Vehicle Object Detection and Visual Indication
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need to enhance productivity and safety in logistic material handling operations, particularly in warehouses, by improving the efficiency and safety of automated guided vehicles (AGVs) through better object detection and indication systems.
Innovation Solution
A material handling vehicle equipped with a drive motor, hydraulic system, control unit, sensors, and indicating means such as lights, projections, and screens to efficiently navigate and communicate its operations to surrounding objects, allowing for autonomous operation and improved object avoidance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the vehicle is equipped with sensors and indicating means to detect and communicate with surrounding objects, then safety and operational efficiency are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The indicating means is divided into multiple independent components including lights positioned at different locations on the vehicle, floor projection means, and screen means. Each component serves specific indication purposes and can operate independently, allowing the system to provide comprehensive safety information without requiring a single complex indication system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces floor projection means that projects indications onto the floor as an intermediary between the vehicle's internal state and external objects. This intermediary communication channel enhances safety by providing visual feedback to surrounding objects and personnel without requiring direct complex interaction between the vehicle's control system and external entities.
2Reliability
If the vehicle performs frequent stopping and steering operations to avoid detected objects, then safety is improved, but productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The indicating means communicates the vehicle's detected objects and intended avoidance actions to surrounding objects in advance. By projecting indications on the floor and displaying information on screens before the vehicle executes steering or stopping maneuvers, other objects can take preliminary actions to avoid interference, thereby reducing the need for frequent emergency stopping and steering operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback by continuously detecting objects with sensors and communicating this information through indicating means to surrounding objects. This feedback loop allows other objects to adjust their behavior based on the vehicle's detected environment, reducing conflicts and the need for reactive stopping and steering operations that would reduce productivity.
3Productivity
If the vehicle operates autonomously without an operator, then productivity is improved, but the ability to handle unexpected situations worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The vehicle is equipped with self-service capabilities through integrated sensors that detect objects and indicating means that communicate the vehicle's state and intentions. This self-service system allows the autonomous vehicle to independently handle unexpected situations by detecting objects, determining appropriate avoidance actions, and communicating these actions to surrounding objects without human intervention, thereby maintaining both productivity and reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The indicating means utilizes color changes to communicate different vehicle states and detected objects to surrounding objects. By using distinct colors to represent different situations (e.g., different object types, vehicle modes, or alert levels), the autonomous vehicle can convey complex information about unexpected situations in a quickly recognizable manner, enabling effective autonomous response without operator intervention.
Data Source
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AI summary
Material handling vehicle (1) comprising indication means (8, 9, 10, 11). Wherein the material handling vehicle (1) comprises at least one sensor (7) for detecting an object (12). System comprising a material handling vehicle (1) and an object (12). There is also disclosed a method for operating a material handling vehicle (1).