US 2026/0277249 A1 · SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR AUTOMATIC LOAD TRANSFER BETWEEN AUTOMATED GUIDED VEHICLES

Abstract

Systems and methods for automatic transfer of a load between a carrier automated guided vehicle (AGV) carrying the load and a receiver AGV. During the transfer process, the carrier AGV is positioned within proximity of the receiver AGV. A handshake is initiated between the AGV pair, causing one of the AGVs to become stationary. Portions of the bumper field of each AGV can be disabled to permit positioning of the AGVs close together without initiating obstacle avoidance maneuvers of the AGVs. During the handshake, while one AGV moves toward the other AGV, the respective bumper fields together form an enlarged bumper field surrounding at least a majority of a combined perimeter of the AGV pair, providing intact obstacle detection while transferring the load between AGVs. After the load is transferred, the handshake can be terminated and the receiver AGV can deliver the received load to a location within the warehouse.

Claims21

Dependent claims

A method for automatic transfer of a load between a first automated guided vehicle (AGV) and a second AGV, the method comprising:

receiving, by the first AGV, a signal to initiate a load transfer process from an AGV fleet control system;
initiating a handshake between the first AGV and the second AGV, wherein the handshake causes the second AGV to become stationary and block receipt of further task requests from the AGV fleet control system;
disabling a portion of a first bumper field of the first AGV in the direction of the stationary second AGV;
disabling a portion of a second bumper field of the second AGV in the direction of a path of travel of the first AGV;
moving the first AGV toward the second AGV into a load transfer position, in which the first AGV is positioned within the disabled portion of the second bumper field and the second AGV is positioned within the disabled portion of the first bumper field;
transferring the load between the first AGV to the second AGV;
moving the first AGV away from the second AGV;
and
terminating the handshake,
wherein, during movement of the first AGV into the load transfer position, the first bumper field and the second bumper field together form an enlarged bumper field surrounding at least a majority of a combined perimeter the first AGV and the second AGV.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

System and method for automatic load transfer between automated guided vehicles

Life of this patent

System and method for automatic load transfer between automated guided vehicles

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims21