Process and apparatus for locating an obstacle
US4967860A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 27, 1989 |
| Grant date | Nov 6, 1990 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 27, 2009 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S367/909
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An unmanned movable and steerable vehicle has a device for locating obstacles in relation to a coordinate system which moves along with the vehicle. Ultrasonic waves transmitted by transmitters on the vehicle in the driving direction thereof and ultrasonic waves reflected back to the vehicle by obstacles and received by receivers on the vehicle produce information whereby vehicle steering and/or braking signals function to prevent a collision. For the purpose of an interference-free, accurate location determination of an obstacle in relation to the coordinate system moved along with an unmanned movable and steerable vehicle, a single pulse is transmitted by two adjacent ultrasonic waves and also received again at the transmission sources. In a progression by one another sound source, after the first sound source has been switched off, the same procedure of transmitting a single pulse and, in the presence of an obstacle, the reception of a reflected ultrasonic echo is possible. The size and position of an obstacle in front of the vehicle can then be received interference-free.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.