Fall-protected autonomous travel system with area markers

A fall-protected autonomous travel system, said system comprising:

• a plurality of area markers, said plurality of area markers being spatially distributed in a travel area;
• at least one self-propelling mobile unit, said mobile unit comprising:
• a contactless spatial scanning device with a sensing range in which said spatial scanning device scans at least said travel area located in the front of said mobile unit in a direction of travel of said mobile unit and senses at least one of said plurality of area markers located therein;
• and
• a program-controlled control device which is connected to said spatial scanning device and controls said mobile unit by means of navigation and safety programs, wherein a first safety sub-range is within said sensing range and, if said spatial scanning device does not sense at least one of said plurality of area marker in said first safety sub-range, said control device brings said mobile unit to a stop to protect said mobile unit against falling, said navigation and safety programs being used additively to act on said control device.