Object detection system, transport vehicle, and object detection device

An object detection system comprising:

• a transport vehicle including a traveling mechanism configured to travel along a predetermined route;
• and
• an object detection device mounted on the transport vehicle, wherein
• the object detection device includes:
• a light emitting element;
• a light receiving element;
• a scanning optical system configured to scan a space by measurement light emitted from the light emitting element and guide reflected light from an object for the measurement light to the light receiving element;
• a distance calculation circuit configured to calculate a distance and a direction to the object based on physical relationship between the measurement light emitted from the light emitting element and the reflected light detected by the light receiving element;
• a region memory circuit configured to store a monitoring region;
• an object determination circuit configured to determine whether the distance and the direction to the object calculated by the distance calculation circuit are within the monitoring region stored in the region memory circuit;
• a signal output circuit configured to output an object detection signal when the object determination circuit determines that the object is within the monitoring region;
• and
• a mode switching circuit configured to switch to either a first mode or a second mode, the first mode being a mode in which the distance calculation circuit, the object determination circuit, and the signal output circuit operate regardless of an intensity of the reflected light received by the light receiving element, the second mode being a mode in which the distance calculation circuit, the object determination circuit, and the signal output circuit operate when the intensity of the reflected light received by the light receiving element is at or above a predetermined threshold and any of the distance calculation circuit, the object determination circuit, and the signal output circuit is inhibited from operating when the intensity of the reflected light received by the light receiving element is below the predetermined threshold, and wherein
• the transport vehicle includes:
• a traveling control circuit configured to control the traveling mechanism to control traveling of the transport vehicle to a predesignated station and to slow down or stop the transport vehicle based on the object detection signal output from the signal output circuit;
• and
• a mode switching signal output circuit configured to output, to the mode switching circuit, a mode switching signal to switch to either the first mode or the second mode.