Vehicle object-engagement scanning system and method

US12153431B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• SEEGRID CORPORATION · US

Inventors

• Chun Zhang · Pittsburgh, US
• Nathan Greco · Pittsburgh, US
• Adam Grusky · Pittsburgh, US
• Bruce Thompson · Macon, US
• Ed Butina · Montour Junction, US
• Jacob Seal · Pittsburgh, US
• John E. Harrold · Bloomsbury, US
• Ryan Young · Washington, US
• Benjamin Schmidt · Stuttgart, DE
• Andrew Tracy · Pittsburgh, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Sep 30, 2021
• Grant date: Nov 26, 2024
• Expiry date: Jan 24, 2042

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G05D1/689
• WIPO field: Control
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A transport vehicle, such as a vision guided vehicle, can comprise a drive portion constructed to facilitate movement of the transport vehicle and a load portion constructed to engage an object of interest. The load portion can comprise an object engagement apparatus and at least one sensor coupled to or disposed within a distal end of the object engagement apparatus, wherein the sensor can be at least a 2D sensor. The engagement apparatus can comprise forks, at least one fork having sensor coupled to or disposed within a fork tip. The 2D sensor can comprise a scanning LIDAR sensor arranged to collect information to identify a pickable pallet, for example.