Autonomous Yard Tractor Guidance for Tight Trailer Docking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Distribution centers face challenges in efficiently maneuvering transport vehicles due to compact parking spaces and the need for adherence to operational protocols, which can lead to accidents and reduced efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A guidance system for autonomous and manned vehicles that provides path guidance to avoid obstacles, communicates workflow instructions, and monitors vehicle performance, using sensors and control systems to ensure safe and efficient movement within logistics yards.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If compact parking spaces and docking stations are configured to maximize the number of spaces, then the quantity of docking stations is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to minimum width and length necessary to position a trailer
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual driver operation with an autonomous guidance system that uses sensors, controllers, and automated steering to maneuver trailers into docking stations. This substitution allows precise positioning in compact spaces without requiring additional manual maneuvering room, as the automated system can execute precise steering commands based on real-time sensor feedback about trailer position and orientation.
2Reliability
If operational protocols mandate safe vehicle speeds and set paths, then the reliability is improved, but the productivity deteriorates due to time-consuming adherence to protocols
Solution Approach 1:
The autonomous guidance system enables continuous operation by eliminating idle time associated with manual protocol adherence. The system continuously monitors trailer position, calculates optimal paths, and executes maneuvers without interruption, maintaining safe speeds and paths through automated control rather than human decision-making pauses. This continuous automated operation improves both safety consistency and throughput efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates real-time feedback through sensors that continuously monitor trailer position, orientation, and movement. This feedback loop allows the control system to dynamically adjust steering and speed to maintain safe operational parameters while optimizing path efficiency. The feedback mechanism ensures protocol adherence without requiring manual intervention, as the system self-corrects to maintain safe speeds and proper positioning throughout the maneuver.
3Productivity
If drivers are pressured to maximize efficiency during peak operations, then the productivity is improved, but the reliability deteriorates as drivers may exceed speed limits and shortcut protocols
Solution Approach 1:
The autonomous guidance system makes the vehicle self-sufficient by automatically executing safe maneuvers without human intervention. The system inherently prioritizes safety protocols by design, as the control algorithms are programmed to enforce speed limits and proper positioning sequences. This self-service capability eliminates the human factor that leads to protocol violations during high-pressure periods, ensuring consistent adherence to safety requirements while maintaining high productivity through efficient automated path optimization.
4Area of stationary object
If minimum width and length of parking spaces are used to maximize capacity, then the area is improved, but the difficulty of detecting and measuring deteriorates due to tight spacing between vehicles
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual driver judgment and physical reference point measurement with an automated sensor-based detection system. Sensors mounted on the trailer and docking station continuously measure relative position, orientation, and gap dimensions with high precision. This electronic measurement system eliminates the difficulty of visually judging tight clearances, as the sensors provide exact numerical data about positioning that is fed to the control system for automated correction, enabling accurate positioning in minimally sized spaces without relying on driver spatial estimation skills.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods are disclosed for controlling operations of autonomous vehicles and systems in, for example, logistics yards at distribution, manufacturing, processing and/or other centers for the transfer of goods, materials, and/or other cargo. In some embodiments, an autonomous yard tractor or other vehicle can include one or more systems for locating an over-the-road trailer parked in a yard of a distribution center, engaging the trailer, and moving the trailer to a loading dock for loading/unloading operations in accordance with a workflow procedure provided by a central control system. In other embodiments, an autonomous yard tractor can locate the trailer at the loading dock after the loading/unloading operations, engage the trailer, and move the trailer to a parking location in the yard. In some embodiments, the autonomous yard tractor can include a sensor system configured to detect the position of the trailer relative to, for example, the tractor, and/or the dock station can include a sensor system configured to detect the position of the trailer relative to, for example, the dock station during a docking procedure.