Materials Handling Vehicle Position Switching Between Aisle and Open Areas

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current position determination systems for materials handling vehicles in covered environments, such as warehouses, fail to accurately determine the vehicle's position when it is within aisles formed between multi-level racking systems due to interference and limited coverage areas.

Innovation Solution

A system comprising a materials handling vehicle equipped with a vehicle transceiver and sensors that utilize a combination of transceiver anchors and guidewires to determine its position, adjusting weightings based on line of sight and proximity to guidewires, and switching between position systems when entering or exiting aisles.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If transceiver anchors are used to determine vehicle position in free range areas, then positioning accuracy is maintained in open spaces, but positioning fails in aisles due to signal interference and limited coverage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepositioning accuracyVSAvoidcoverage area

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines two different positioning systems (transceiver anchors for free range areas and guidewires for aisles) into a unified positioning solution. The system merges the capabilities of both systems to provide continuous coverage across different environment types, allowing the vehicle to transition seamlessly between positioning methods based on location.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces guidewires as an intermediary positioning infrastructure specifically for aisle environments where transceiver anchors cannot provide adequate coverage. These guidewires act as a mediator that enables positioning in the previously unreachable aisle spaces without interfering with the existing transceiver anchor system in open areas.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Device complexity

If a single positioning system is used throughout the covered environment, then system complexity is reduced, but positioning accuracy deteriorates in aisle areas due to signal interference

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem complexityVSAvoidpositioning accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the covered environment into distinct zones (free range areas and aisles) and assigns different positioning systems to each zone. This segmentation allows each positioning system to be optimized for its specific environment, maintaining high accuracy in both areas while managing overall system complexity through modular design.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements a dynamic positioning system that automatically selects or switches between transceiver anchor-based positioning and guidewire-based positioning based on the vehicle's current location and environmental conditions. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to maintain optimal accuracy without requiring manual intervention or complex configuration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Area of stationary object

If transceiver anchors are deployed throughout the entire covered environment including aisles, then coverage is improved, but signal interference and distortion increase in confined aisle spaces

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecoverage areaVSAvoidsignal interference

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies different positioning technologies with locally optimized characteristics to different spatial zones. Transceiver anchors are deployed in free range areas where they provide optimal performance, while guidewires are specifically installed in aisle areas where they are immune to the signal interference problems that affect transceiver anchors in confined spaces.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

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

Enables accurate positioning of materials handling vehicles in both free range and aisle environments, enhancing operational control and efficiency by automatically adjusting operation modes based on positioning data.

Implementation Method 1

a vehicle transceiver for receiving a communication from a plurality of transceiver anchors

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectromagnetic radiation: Electromagnetic Induction

Implementation Method 2

a vehicle sensor for detecting at least one of a plurality of guidewires

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectromagnetic detection: Electromagnetic Induction

Data Source

PatentUS20250368483A1Systems and methods for transitioning between position systems to determine the position of materials handling vehicles

Publication Date: 2025.12.04 CROWN EQUIP CORP

AI summary

Embodiments provided herein include systems and methods for determining a two-dimensional position of a materials handling vehicle. One embodiment includes determining a position of a vehicle in a free range area of a covered environment, determining that the materials handling vehicle is entering an aisle in the covered environment, and in response to determining that the materials handling vehicle is entering the aisle, automatically enabling a second position system of the materials handling vehicle to determine a first dimension of the position using a vehicle sensor and determine a second dimension of the position using the vehicle transceiver receiving communications from a subset of transceiver anchors of the plurality of transceiver anchors. Some embodiments include utilizing the second position system to determine the position of the materials handling vehicle from the first dimension and the second dimension.