US 12,679,673 B1Granted

Shuttle height monitoring systems for shuttles powered by linear synchronous motors

AssigneeAmazon Technologies, Inc.

InventorsAlexandru Marculescu, Thys Burger, Cristiano Ascani

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Abstract

Systems and methods are disclosed for shuttle height monitoring systems for shuttles powered by linear synchronous motors. An example system may include a track, a first sensor disposed adjacent to the track, a second sensor disposed adjacent to the track, a third sensor disposed adjacent to the second sensor, and a controller. The controller may be configured to determine, using the third sensor, that the first shuttle is adjacent to the first sensor, determine, using the first sensor, a first distance between a first lower portion of the first shuttle and the first sensor, determine, using the second sensor, that the second shuttle is adjacent to the first sensor, and determine, using the first sensor, a second distance between a second lower portion of the second shuttle and the first sensor.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A system comprising:

a track having a central axis, the track comprising a first rail segment on a first side of the central axis and a second rail segment on a second side of the central axis;
a first shuttle configured to transport one or more items from a first location to a second location using the track, the first shuttle comprising a first permanent magnet and a first conveyor assembly having a central axis that is transverse to the central axis of the track, wherein the first shuttle is configured to support the one or more items on the first conveyor assembly;
a second shuttle configured to move along the track, the second shuttle comprising a second permanent magnet;
a set of electromagnets disposed along the central axis of the track, wherein the set of electromagnets interact with the first and second permanent magnets to propel the first shuttle and the second shuttle, respectively;
a first laser sensor disposed adjacent to the track;
a first photoelectric sensor disposed adjacent to the track;
a second photoelectric sensor disposed adjacent to the first photoelectric sensor;
and
a controller configured to:
determine, using the second photoelectric sensor, that the first shuttle is adjacent to the first laser sensor;
cause the first laser sensor to determine a first distance between the first permanent magnet and the first laser sensor;
and
determine a first wear status of the first shuttle based at least in part on the first distance.

10 more elements

A system for monitoring shuttle wear of a first shuttle and a second shuttle, the system comprising:

a track comprising a first rail segment that forms a first side of the track, and a second rail segment that forms a second side of the track;
a first sensor disposed adjacent to the track;
a second sensor disposed adjacent to the track;
a third sensor disposed adjacent to the second sensor;
and
a controller configured to:
determine, using the third sensor, that the first shuttle is adjacent to the first sensor;
determine, using the first sensor, a first distance between a first lower portion of the first shuttle and the first sensor;
determine, using the second sensor, that the second shuttle is adjacent to the first sensor;
and
determine, using the first sensor, a second distance between a second lower portion of the second shuttle and the first sensor.

8 more elements

A system comprising:

a track comprising a first rail segment and a second rail segment, wherein the first rail segment forms a first side of the track, and the second rail segment forms a second side of the track;
a first shuttle configured to move along the track;
a second shuttle configured to move along the track;
a first sensor disposed adjacent to the track;
a second sensor disposed adjacent to the track;
a third sensor disposed adjacent to the second sensor;
and
a controller configured to:
determine, using the third sensor, that the first shuttle is adjacent to the first sensor;
determine, using the first sensor, a first distance between a first lower portion of the first shuttle and the first sensor;
determine, using the second sensor, that the second shuttle is adjacent to the first sensor;
and
determine, using the first sensor, a second distance between a second lower portion of the second shuttle and the first sensor.

10 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.