Drift sensor for land vehicles
AssigneeLITEF GmbH
InventorJürgen Schnell
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A sensor is provided on the vehicle of a driverless transport system. The sensor is based on the principle of a computer mouse for ascertaining either a drift angle Δα or the transverse movement is detected as a path difference Δq whereby lateral drift due, for example, to roadway covering irregularities and to curves, is detected directly. A considerable improvement in the tracking accuracy of driverless transport vehicles is thereby provided.
Claims4
In an automatic guided land vehicle of the type that includes a navigation device for integrated navigation for detecting remotely-spaced sequential correction points fitted into a floor or roadway covering defining a predetermined route to assist tracking and maintain navigation accuracy by the use of a navigation algorithm, the improvement comprising, in combination:
- a) said land vehicle including a sensor for generating a signal independent of said navigation device;
- and
- b) said sensor including means comprising a trailing wheel for detecting the drift angle and path difference resulting from movements occurring transverse to the longitudinal axis of said vehicle;
- and
- c) said navigation algorithm being arranged to provide a course correction based, in part, upon the output of said sensor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.