System and method using a multi-plane curtain
AssigneeSeegrid Corporation
InventorsMitchell Weiss, William R. Bosworth
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A multi-plane scanner support system includes a bracket and a mirror block. The bracket is configured to be secured in a fixed orientation with respect to a scanner. And the mirror block is arranged to receive a scanning signal from the scanner and to reflect the scanning signal into a plurality of directions to create multiple scanning planes. The scanner can be a laser scanner. The scanner and multi-plane scanner support system can be attached to a material transport vehicle, for example, to provide safety functions. The vehicle can be manned or unmanned.
Claims20
A vehicle having a multi-plane scanning system, comprising:
- a vehicle;
- a bottom laser scanner coupled to a bottom portion of the vehicle and configured to direct a substantially horizontal scanning plane in a forward direction to define a warning zone;
- a range scanner coupled to the vehicle;
- and
- a mirror block coupled to a top portion of the vehicle, the mirror block including a plurality of reflective surfaces having a fixed orientation with respect to the range scanner and arranged to receive a scanning signal from the range scanner and to reflect the scanning signal into a plurality of downwardly projecting scanning planes, including a front downwardly projection scanning plane, a right side downwardly projecting scanning plane, and a left side downwardly projecting plane, that intersect the warning zone to define a safety zone that includes a portion of the warning zone,
- wherein the vehicle is configured to have a first response to object detection in the warning zone and a second response to object detection in the safety zone.
A method of vehicle based scanning in a direction of travel, the method comprising:
- providing a vehicle having a multi-place scanning system, the multi-plane scanning system including:
- a bottom laser scanner coupled to a bottom portion of the vehicle;
- a range scanner coupled to the vehicle;
- and
- a mirror block coupled to a top portion of the vehicle, the mirror block including a plurality of reflective surfaces having a fixed orientation with respect to the range scanner;
- directing a substantially horizontal scanning plane in a forward direction from the bottom laser scanner;
- the mirror block receiving a scanning signal from the range scanner and reflecting the scanning signal into a plurality of downwardly projecting scanning planes, including a front downwardly projection scanning plane, a right side downwardly projecting scanning plane, and a left side downwardly projecting plane, that intersect the warning zone to define a safety zone that includes a portion of the warning zone, and
- the vehicle having a first response to object detection in the warning zone and a second response to object detection in the safety zone.
A vehicle having a multi-plane scanning system, comprising:
- a vehicle;
- a drive mechanism configured to control movement of the vehicle;
- a bottom laser scanner coupled to a bottom portion of the vehicle and configured to direct a substantially horizontal scanning plane in a forward direction to define a warning zone;
- a range scanner configured to output and receive a scanning signal;
- a mirror block coupled to a top portion of the vehicle, the mirror block including a plurality of fixed reflective surfaces that at least partially surround the range scanner to receive and reflect the scanning signal from the range scanner into a plurality of downwardly projecting scanning planes that intersect the warning zone to define a safety zone that includes a portion of the warning zone;
- and
- a controller configured to control the drive mechanism, including:
- in response to detection of a body in the warning zone by the bottom laser scanner, the controller is configured to signal the drive mechanism to slow operation of the vehicle;
- and
- in response to detection of a body in the safety zone by the range scanner, the controller is configured to signal the drive mechanism to halt movement and/or operation of the vehicle.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.