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US 10,095,233 B2Granted
Mobile robotic system for guiding an automated vehicle along a reconfigurable continuous path defined by a floor assembly and method thereof
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsTuong Q. Nguyen, John W. Pringle, IV
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A mobile robotic system may include an automated guided vehicle, and a floor assembly including a support surface and a reconfigurable pathway, wherein the automated guided vehicle is configured to travel on the support surface and follow the reconfigurable pathway.
Claims22
A mobile robotic system comprising:
- an automated guided vehicle comprising:
- a frame;
- a powertrain;
- wheels operatively coupled with said power train and operable to move said automated guided vehicle upon a support surface;
- and
- a guidance system configured to steer said automated guided vehicle via selective directional control of said wheels;
- and
- a floor assembly defining a reconfigurable continuous pathway, along which said automated guided vehicle is steered, said floor assembly comprising a plurality of floor panels that are connected together to form said support surface, upon which said automated guided vehicle moves, each one of said floor panels comprising a guidance marker that defines a segment of said reconfigurable continuous pathway;
- and wherein:
- said floor panels are selectively arranged so that said guidance marker of each one of said floor panels is aligned with said guidance marker of an adjacent one of said floor panels and a plurality of segments form said reconfigurable continuous pathway;
- and
- said guidance system is configured to detect said guidance marker of each one of said floor panels so that said automated guided vehicle automatically follows said reconfigurable continuous pathway while on said support surface.
9 more elements
A method for guiding a mobile robotic system comprising:
- determining a travel path of an automated guided vehicle, said automated guided vehicle comprising a frame, a powertrain, wheels operatively coupled with said power train and operable to move said automated guided vehicle upon a support surface, and a guidance system configured to steer said automated guided vehicle via selective directional control of said wheels;
- selectively arranging a plurality of floor panels of a floor assembly to form said support surface, upon which said automated guided vehicle moves, and to define a continuous pathway, along which said automated guided vehicle is steered, that matches said travel path, each one of said floor panels comprising a guidance marker that defines a segment of said reconfigurable continuous pathway;
- connecting said floor panels together so that said guidance marker of each one of said floor panels is aligned with said guidance marker of an adjacent one of said floor panels and a plurality of segments form said continuous pathway;
- detecting, by said guidance system of said automated guided vehicle, said guidance marker of each one of said floor panels;
- and
- automatically navigating said automated guided vehicle along said travel path by following said continuous pathway while on said support surface.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.