Claims:We claim:
1. A system (100) for automatically controlling and guiding a vehicle along a pre-defined path, said system (100) comprising:
a path detector (102) configured to detect said pre-defined path and generate a path detection signal, said path detector (102) comprising at least one light emitting device configured to emit light towards said path, and at least one light receiving device configured to receive a reflected light from said path, wherein said at least one light receiving device is selected from the group consisting of a light controlled variable resistor, a light dependent resistor, and a photo resistor;
a signal processing unit (104) adapted to cooperate with said path detector (102) to receive said path detection signal, and configured to generate a processed signal based on said path detection signal;
an obstacle detector (106) configured to detect an obstacle along said path, and generate an obstacle detection signal;
an obstacle detection unit (108) adapted to cooperate with said obstacle detector (106) to receive said obstacle detection signal, and configured to generate a stop signal corresponding to said obstacle detection signal;
a driver unit (110) adapted to cooperate with said signal processing unit (104) and said obstacle detection unit (108) to receive said processed signal and said stop signal respectively, and configured to generate at least one driving signal based on said processed signal and said stop signal; and
at least one motor (112) coupled to at least one wheel of said vehicle, and connected to said driver unit (110), and configured to drive said at least one wheel based on said at least one driving signal thereby guiding and controlling said vehicle.
2. The system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said pre-defined path includes at least two strips of white colour and at least one strip of black colour along said path.
3. The system (100 as claimed in claim 1, wherein said driver unit (110 comprises at least one relay (202).
4. The system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said driver unit (110) includes a motor supply change over unit (204) configured to drive said at least one wheel in a forward or reverse direction.
5. The system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said obstacle detector (106) comprises at least one ultrasonic sensor.
6. The system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least one motor (112) is a permanent magnet DC motor.
7. The system (100) as claimed in claim 1, which includes a notification unit (114) configured to generate a first audio signal to indicate normal maneuver of said vehicle along said path, and a second audio signal to indicate presence of an obstacle.
8. A method (300) for automatically controlling and guiding a vehicle along a pre-defined path, said method comprising the following steps:
detecting, by a path detector, said pre-defined path, and generating a path detection signal (302), said path detector comprising at least one light emitting device configured to emit light towards said path, and at least one light receiving device configured to receive a reflected light from said path, wherein said at least one light receiving device is selected from the group consisting of a light controlled variable resistor, a light dependent resistor, and a photo resistor;
receiving said path detection signal, by a signal processing unit, and generating a processed signal based on said path detection signal (304);
detecting, by an obstacle detector, an obstacle along said path, and generating an obstacle detection signal (306);
receiving said obstacle detection signal, by an obstacle detection unit, and generating a stop signal corresponding to said obstacle detection signal (308);
receiving said processed signal and said stop signal, by a driver unit, and generating at least one driving signal based on said processed signal and said stop signal (310); and
receiving said at least one driving signal, by at least one motor coupled to at least one wheel of said vehicle, and driving said at least one wheel based on said at least one driving signal thereby guiding and controlling said vehicle (312).

, Description:FIELD
The present disclosure relates to the field of automated guided vehicles (AGVs).
BACKGROUND
Efficient automated systems are crucial for maintaining warehouses and production systems. Automated guided vehicle (AGV) systems have proven to be one of the most popular technologies to fulfill this requirement. The AGV systems are modular, accurate, and speedy and are therefore commonly used in facilities such as manufacturing plants, warehouses, distribution centers and terminals. Material-handling AGVs have the ability to transport goods from one location to another like a shuttle, thereby reducing labor strain on human workers. Typical principles of operation of various types of AGVs include wire guidance, laser guidance, inertial guidance, beacon guidance, and dead-reckoning guidance.
However, the wire guided AGV systems are inflexible, and can be costly and disruptive to the manufacturing process. Such AGV systems need specific environment for installation and are difficult to use in case of dirt floors. The laser guided AGV systems are flexible, but the laser used in the laser guided AGV systems can be hazardous to human eyes. Moreover, these systems are also costly. Further, the AGV systems using inertial guidance use gyroscopes which are high precision devices prone to wear and tear. In these systems small amount of wear can cause the AGV to steer off course, and such path deviation at constant velocity is uncorrectable. Furthermore, the beacon guided AGV systems are complex and costly. Additionally, the AGV systems using dead-reckoning guidance are unreliable and require smooth surfaces, as debris and foreign materials in the path of the AGV in such systems, can cause serious errors.
Therefore, there is felt a need to limit the aforementioned drawbacks and provide a system and method for automatically controlling and guiding a vehicle along a pre-defined path.
OBJECTS
Some of the objects of the present disclosure, which at least one embodiment herein satisfies, are as follows:
An object of the present disclosure is to provide a system for automatically controlling and guiding a vehicle along a pre-defined path.
Another object of the present disclosure is to provide a system for automatically controlling and guiding a vehicle along a pre-defined path, which is simple, inexpensive and easy to repair.
Other objects and advantages of the present disclosure will be more apparent from the following description, which is not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.
SUMMARY
A system for automatically controlling and guiding a vehicle along a pre-defined path is envisaged. The system comprises a path detector, a signal processing unit, an obstacle detector, an obstacle detection unit, a driver unit, and at least one motor. The path detector is configured to detect the pre-defined path and generate a path detection signal. The path detector comprises at least one light emitting device configured to emit light towards the path, and at least one light receiving device configured to receive a reflected light from the path. Further, the at least one light receiving device is selected from the group consisting of a light controlled variable resistor, a light dependent resistor, and a photo resistor. The signal processing unit is adapted to cooperate with the path detector to receive the path detection signal, and is configured to generate a processed signal based on the path detection signal. The obstacle detector is configured to detect an obstacle along the path, and generate an obstacle detection signal. The obstacle detection unit is adapted to cooperate with the obstacle detector to receive the obstacle detection signal, and is configured to generate a stop signal corresponding to the obstacle detection signal. The driver unit is adapted to cooperate with the signal processing unit and the obstacle detection unit to receive the processed signal and the stop signal respectively, and is configured to generate at least one driving signal based on the processed signal and the stop signal. The at least one motor is coupled to at least one wheel of the vehicle, and connected to the driver unit, and is configured to drive the at least one wheel based on the at least one driving signal thereby guiding and controlling the vehicle.
In one embodiment, the pre-defined path has at least two strips of white colour and at least one strip of black colour along the path. In yet another embodiment, the driver unit comprises at least one relay. Further, the driver unit includes a motor supply change over unit configured to drive the at least one wheel in a forward or reverse direction.
In an embodiment, the obstacle detector comprises at least one ultrasonic sensor. The at least one motor is a permanent magnet DC motor. Additionally, in one embodiment, the system includes a notification unit configured to generate a first audio signal to indicate normal maneuver of the vehicle along the path, and a second audio signal to indicate the presence of an obstacle.
A method for automatically controlling and guiding a vehicle along a pre-defined path is also envisaged. The method comprising the following steps:
• detecting, by a path detector, the pre-defined path, and generating a path detection signal, the path detector comprising at least one light emitting device configured to emit light towards the path, and at least one light receiving device configured to receive a reflected light from the path, wherein the at least one light receiving device is selected from the group consisting of a light controlled variable resistor, a light dependent resistor, and a photo resistor;
• receiving the path detection signal, by a signal processing unit, and generating a processed signal based on the path detection signal;
• detecting, by an obstacle detector, an obstacle along the path, and generating an obstacle detection signal;
• receiving the obstacle detection signal, by an obstacle detection unit, and generating a stop signal corresponding to the obstacle detection signal;
• receiving the processed signal and the stop signal, by a driver unit, and generating at least one driving signal based on the processed signal and the stop signal; and
• receiving the at least one driving signal, by at least one motor coupled to at least one wheel of the vehicle, and driving the at least one wheel based on the at least one driving signal thereby guiding and controlling the vehicle.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWING
The system and method for automatically controlling and guiding a vehicle along a pre-defined path, of the present disclosure, will now be described with the help of the accompanying drawing, in which:
FIGURE 1 illustrates a schematic block diagram of a system for automatically controlling and guiding a vehicle along a pre-defined path, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure; and
FIGURE 2 illustrates a flow diagram showing the steps involved in a method for automatically controlling and guiding a vehicle along a pre-defined path, in accordance with one embodiment.
List and details of reference numerals used in the description and drawing:
Reference Numeral Reference
100 System
102 Path detector
104 Signal processing unit
106 Obstacle detector
108 Obstacle detection unit
110 Driver unit
112 At least one motor
114 Notification unit
202 At least one relay
204 Motor supply change over unit
300-312 Method and method steps

DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Efficient automated systems are crucial for maintaining warehouses and production systems. Automated guided vehicle (AGV) systems have proven to be one of the most popular technologies to fulfill this requirement. The AGV systems are modular, accurate, and speedy and are therefore commonly used in facilities such as manufacturing plants, warehouses, distribution centers and terminals. Material-handling AGVs have the ability to transport goods from one location to another like a shuttle, thereby reducing labor strain on human workers. Typical principles of operation of various types of AGVs include wire guidance, laser guidance, inertial guidance, beacon guidance, and dead-reckoning guidance.
However, the wire guided AGV systems are inflexible, and can be costly and disruptive to the manufacturing process. Such AGV systems need specific environment for installation and are difficult to use in case of dirt floors. The laser guided AGV systems are flexible, but the laser used in the laser guided AGV systems can be hazardous to human eyes. Moreover, these systems are also costly. Further, the AGV systems using inertial guidance use gyroscopes which are high precision devices prone to wear and tear. In these systems small amount of wear can cause the AGV to steer off course, and such path deviation at constant velocity is uncorrectable. Furthermore, the beacon guided AGV systems are complex and costly. Additionally, the AGV systems using dead-reckoning guidance are unreliable and require smooth surfaces, as debris and foreign materials in the path of the AGV in such systems, can cause serious errors. Therefore, there is felt a need to limit the aforementioned drawbacks and provide a system and method for automatically controlling and guiding a vehicle along a pre-defined path.
A system using optical guidance is envisaged in the present disclosure to limit the aforementioned drawbacks. In an embodiment, in order to detect the path, the system of the present disclosure uses the basic property of light, that is black colour absorbs maximum light whereas white colour reflects maximum light. To detect the path, the system uses a light source attached to the bottom of a vehicle. A black coloured path is made on a white coloured surface. The light emitted by the light source is reflected from a reflective white surface, and absorbed by the black path, which helps in guiding the vehicle. Differential mechanism is used in order to turn the vehicle and follow the black coloured path. The system of the present disclosure will now be described with the help of FIGURE 1 of the accompanying drawing.
The system 100 for automatically controlling and guiding a vehicle along a pre-defined path is herein after referred to as the system 100. The system 100 comprises a path detector 102, a signal processing unit 104, an obstacle detector 106, an obstacle detection unit 108, a driver unit 110, and at least one motor 112.
The path detector 102 is configured to detect the pre-defined path and generate a path detection signal. In one embodiment, the path detector 102 comprises at least one light emitting device configured to emit light towards the path, and at least one light receiving device configured to receive a reflected light from the path. In another embodiment, the at least one light receiving device is selected from the group consisting of a light controlled variable resistor, a light dependent resistor, and a photo resistor. Further, the pre-defined path has at least two strips of white colour and at least one strip of black colour along the path.
The signal processing unit 104 is adapted to cooperate with the path detector 102 to receive the path detection signal, and is configured to generate a processed signal based on the path detection signal.
The obstacle detector 106 is configured to detect an obstacle along the path, and generate an obstacle detection signal. In one embodiment, the obstacle detector 106 comprises at least one ultrasonic sensor.
The obstacle detection unit 108 is adapted to cooperate with the obstacle detector 106 to receive the obstacle detection signal, and is configured to generate a stop signal corresponding to the obstacle detection signal.
The driver unit 110 is adapted to cooperate with the signal processing unit 104 and the obstacle detection unit 108 to receive the processed signal and the stop signal respectively, and is configured to generate at least one driving signal based on the processed signal and the stop signal. In an embodiment, the driver unit 110 comprises at least one relay 202 and a motor supply change over unit 204. The motor supply change over unit 204 is configured to drive the at least one wheel in a forward or reverse direction.
The at least one motor 112 is coupled to at least one wheel of the vehicle, and connected to the driver unit 110, and is configured to drive the at least one wheel based on the at least one driving signal thereby guiding and controlling the vehicle. In an embodiment, the at least one motor 112 is a permanent magnet DC motor. In another embodiment, the permanent magnet DC motor is 12V, 3.5A DC motor having maximum 65 RPM. In yet another embodiment, the at least one wheel is selected from a group consisting of a caster wheel and a fixed wheel. The fixed wheel can be made of Teflon material and can work as a driven wheel. The diameter of the at least one wheel can be increased to increase the overall speed.
In one embodiment, the system 100 includes a notification unit 114 configured to generate a first audio signal to indicate normal maneuver of the vehicle along the path, and a second audio signal to indicate the presence of an obstacle. In an embodiment, the first audio signal is a hooter providing the sound of a steam engine, and the second audio signal is a message outputted through a speaker asking the obstacles to move out of the vehicle’s way.
In another embodiment, a 12V, 50A Lithium battery is used to provide power to the system 100.
The present disclosure also envisaged a method, which will now be described with the help of FIGURE 2 of the accompanying drawing. The method 300 for automatically controlling and guiding a vehicle along a pre-defined path comprising the following steps:
- detecting, by a path detector, the pre-defined path, and generating a path detection signal, the path detector comprising at least one light emitting device configured to emit light towards the path, and at least one light receiving device configured to receive a reflected light from the path, wherein the at least one light receiving device is selected from the group consisting of a light controlled variable resistor, a light dependent resistor, and a photo resistor; 302
- receiving the path detection signal, by a signal processing unit, and generating a processed signal based on the path detection signal 304;
- detecting, by an obstacle detector, an obstacle along the path, and generating an obstacle detection signal 306;
- receiving the obstacle detection signal, by an obstacle detection unit, and generating a stop signal corresponding to the obstacle detection signal 308;
- receiving the processed signal and the stop signal, by a driver unit, and generating at least one driving signal based on the processed signal and the stop signal 310; and
- receiving the at least one driving signal, by at least one motor coupled to at least one wheel of the vehicle, and driving the at least one wheel based on the at least one driving signal thereby guiding and controlling the vehicle 312.
TECHNICAL ADVANCEMENTS
The present disclosure described herein above has several technical advantages including, but not limited to, the realization of:
• a system for automatically controlling and guiding a vehicle along a pre-defined path; and.
• a system for automatically controlling and guiding a vehicle along a pre-defined path, which is simple, inexpensive and easy to repair.
The disclosure has been described with reference to the accompanying embodiments which do not limit the scope and ambit of the disclosure. The description provided is purely by way of example and illustration.
The embodiments herein and the various features and advantageous details thereof are explained with reference to the non-limiting embodiments in the following description. Descriptions of well-known components and processing techniques are omitted so as to not unnecessarily obscure the embodiments herein. The examples used herein are intended merely to facilitate an understanding of ways in which the embodiments herein may be practiced and to further enable those of skill in the art to practice the embodiments herein. Accordingly, the examples should not be construed as limiting the scope of the embodiments herein.
The foregoing description of the specific embodiments so fully revealed the general nature of the embodiments herein that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments without departing from the generic concept, and, therefore, such adaptations and modifications should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. Therefore, while the embodiments herein have been described in terms of preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the embodiments herein can be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of the embodiments as described herein.
Throughout this specification the word “comprise”, or variations such as “comprises” or “comprising”, will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps, but not the exclusion of any other element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps.
The use of the expression “at least” or “at least one” suggests the use of one or more elements or ingredients or quantities, as the use may be in the embodiment of the disclosure to achieve one or more of the desired objects or results.
Any discussion of documents, acts, materials, devices, articles or the like that has been included in this specification is solely for the purpose of providing a context for the disclosure. It is not to be taken as an admission that any or all of these matters form a part of the prior art base or were common general knowledge in the field relevant to the disclosure as it existed anywhere before the priority date of this application.
The numerical values mentioned for the various physical parameters, dimensions or quantities are only approximations and it is envisaged that the values higher/lower than the numerical values assigned to the parameters, dimensions or quantities fall within the scope of the disclosure, unless there is a statement in the specification specific to the contrary.
While considerable emphasis has been placed herein on the components and component parts of the preferred embodiments, it will be appreciated that many embodiments can be made and that many changes can be made in the preferred embodiments without departing from the principles of the disclosure. These and other changes in the preferred embodiment as well as other embodiments of the disclosure will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the disclosure herein, whereby it is to be distinctly understood that the foregoing descriptive matter is to be interpreted merely as illustrative of the disclosure and not as a limitation.