Method of and apparatus for guiding a self-steering vehicle along an optical guideway
US5066854A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 14, 1990 |
| Grant date | Nov 19, 1991 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 14, 2010 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01S7/4972
- WIPO fieldControl
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
There are provided a method of and an apparatus for guiding a self-steering or driverless vehicle along an optical guideway. The hitherto known systems, which relate to optical scanning of an optical guideway by means of a light beam and which only transmit the signals "light" and "dark" with respect to detection of the optical guideway, are liable to disturbances and result in a too coarse or non-sensitive control. Therefore, it is suggested to scan the optical guideway by means of light pulses emitted in a predetermined frequency by sensors, whereby the intensity of the reflected light generates by means of an electronic evaluation unit a signal for controlling a steering or guiding mechanism. It is suggested to scan the optical guideway as an analog value by means of individual sensors arranged in a row and further process the determined values as digital values.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.