Automated guided vehicles
AssigneeRobocoaster Limited
InventorsGino De-Gol, Rene Masey, Bruno Bolsens
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention relates to automated guided vehicles, hereinafter referred to as AGVs, and specifically to AGVs used for entertainment purposes. More specifically, the present invention relates to using in a passenger carrying AGV a capacitor or a plurality of capacitors as a power source.
Claims17
A system for guiding an automated guided vehicle for carrying passengers used for entertainment purposes, comprising the automated guided vehicle for carrying passengers and guiding means, the automated guided vehicle being propelled by at least one electric motor, wherein the automated guided vehicle comprises at least one capacitor as a power source for the at least one electric motor, the automated guided vehicle being operable to follow a path over a floor from a start point (A) to an end point (B) which the automated guided vehicle is intended to travel, the automated guided vehicle further being operable on a return path back from the end point (B) to the start point (A) to frequent a charging station (C) for recharging the at least one capacitor at the charging station (C), wherein the charging station (C) forms part of the path from the end point (B) to the start point (A) and wherein the automated guided vehicle is charged via a power rail.
A method for operating a system for guiding an automated guided vehicle for carrying passengers comprising the steps of:
- providing the automated guided vehicle with a capacitor as a source for electrical energy;
- charging the capacitor of the automated guided vehicle with electrical energy;
- using the electrical energy stored in the capacitor to supply electrical motors of the automated guided vehicle;
- guiding the automated guided vehicle along a defined travel path from a start point (A) to an end point (B);
- guiding the automated guided vehicle from the end point (B) to a charging station (C) and recharging the capacitor of the automated guided vehicle;
- and
- guiding the automated guided vehicle from the charging station (C) to the start point (A).
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.