Transport installation with optical and mechanical guiding
US6161484A · kind A · utility
Assignees
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 19, 1999 |
| Grant date | Dec 19, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 19, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG05D1/0246
- WIPO fieldControl
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
The installation comprises a roadway having at least some segments provided with longitudinal reference marking (10) for a nominal path, and vehicles (18) each carrying an assembly providing guidance by controlling a steering axle, having a module for forming an image of the road ahead of the vehicle (18) and for processing the image of the marking, and an optical guidance module calculating the orientation to be given to the wheels of the steering axle to follow the nominal path, and a steering servo-motor controlled by the guidance module. At at least certain segments of the road carry lateral guides (14, 16) and the vehicles, whose front axles at least are steering axles, are provided on each axle with vertical-axis guide wheels (24) designed to press against the guides (14, 16) in the event of the vehicle departing excessively from a nominal path on the road.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.