Travelling Vehicle System Switching Track Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
In travelling vehicle systems, multiple vehicles often need to wait for permission to enter switching tracks, leading to inefficiencies in cargo loading/unloading and increased operation time due to the need for sequential passage reports.
Innovation Solution
A system with a host controller that acquires and compares destination information from multiple vehicles, issuing entry permissions without waiting for passage reports when tracks are the same, allowing vehicles to travel smoothly by optimizing track switching and communication.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If multiple travelling vehicles are allowed to travel along the track, then cargo loading/unloading capacity is improved, but waiting time at switching tracks increases
Solution Approach 1:
The host controller performs preliminary determination of whether the switching track can be immediately entered by comparing destination information before the travelling vehicle reaches the switching track. This preliminary action eliminates the need for waiting and sequential passage reports, allowing the vehicle to proceed directly when the track is available.
2Reliability
If sequential passage reports are required for safety control, then collision prevention is improved, but operation time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary safety determination by comparing destination information at the host controller before the travelling vehicle reaches the switching track. This preliminary safety check eliminates the need for sequential passage reports while maintaining collision prevention, significantly reducing operation time.
3Reliability
If the host controller waits for passage reports from preceding vehicles, then track safety is improved, but vehicle throughput decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The host controller performs preliminary determination of track availability by comparing destination information before the travelling vehicle reaches the switching track. This preliminary action allows immediate entry permission when the track is available, eliminating waiting time and improving vehicle throughput while maintaining safety.
Solution Approach 2:
The travelling vehicle transmits its own destination information to the host controller, enabling the host controller to perform autonomous determination of switching track availability without requiring manual or sequential verification, thereby improving both safety and throughput.
4Reliability
If strict sequential control is implemented at switching tracks, then system reliability is improved, but operational efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements preliminary safety determination through destination information comparison before the vehicle reaches the switching track. This preliminary control maintains system reliability while eliminating unnecessary sequential waiting, thereby improving operational efficiency.
Data Source
AI summary
To allow a travelling vehicle to travel more smoothly, a host controller of a travelling vehicle system includes a first determination part which determines whether or not a second track selected by a first travelling vehicle is the same as a second track selected by a second travelling vehicle, and an entry permission issuing part that issues an entry permission into a switching track to the second vehicle after checking passage of the first vehicle through the switching track when the second track selected by the first vehicle is different from the second track selected by the second vehicle, and issues the entry permission into the switching track to the second vehicle regardless of receipt or non-receipt of the passage report from the first vehicle when the second track selected by the first vehicle is the same as the second track selected by the second vehicle.