Automatic travelling apparatus
US5172317A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 23, 1992 |
| Grant date | Dec 15, 1992 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 23, 2012 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG05D1/0274
- WIPO fieldControl
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An automatic travelling apparatus which permits: determination of a permissible travelling area on the basis of images taken by an image pickup device or video camera, showing the sight of the area appearing ahead of the vehicle; steering control of the vehicle to go into a target course in the permissible travelling area; and selection of a predetermined way of a selected crossing or branch in the target course. For the image pickup device or video camera taking images of the area extending ahead of the vehicle for determining a permissible travelling area, a wide-angle camera, a telescopic range camera and an ordinary camera are selectively used to meet particular situations for example, taking pictures of a crossing, zigzag way or straight long way. This selective use of cameras of different characteristics permits correct identification of particular roads with those stored in the map storage.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.