초록 ▼

A navigation system for use in a self guided material handling vehicle provides guidance during operation in areas having densely stacked rows of containers and reduces the potential of deviation of the self guided vehicle from the desired path of travel. A laser signaling device is mounted on the v

A navigation system for use in a self guided material handling vehicle provides guidance during operation in areas having densely stacked rows of containers and reduces the potential of deviation of the self guided vehicle from the desired path of travel. A laser signaling device is mounted on the vehicle and rotatable about an axis of rotation extending generally perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the self guided vehicle. The laser signaling device is adapted to delivery a light beam signal at a first preselected angle relative to the axis of rotation and a directing device is provided for directing the delivered light beam signal, during a preselected portion of rotation of the laser signaling device, at a second different preselected angle relative to the axis of rotation. A receiving device receives a reflection of the light beam signal and delivers a position signal in response to the light beam signal received. The navigation system is particularly suited for use in automatic storage and retrieval systems.

대표청구항 ▼

A self guided material handling vehicle having a longitudinal axis, a frame and a load carrying apparatus mounted on the frame, said self guided vehicle being adapted to navigate along an underlying surface in response to instructions stored in an onboard computer based on information received from

A self guided material handling vehicle having a longitudinal axis, a frame and a load carrying apparatus mounted on the frame, said self guided vehicle being adapted to navigate along an underlying surface in response to instructions stored in an onboard computer based on information received from a plurality of first and second elevationally and transversely spaced apart targets, comprising: a laser signaling device mounted on the frame and rotatable about an axis of rotation extending in an elevational direction generally perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis, said laser signaling device being adapted to deliver a light beam signal at a first preselected elevational angle relative to the axis of rotation, and said first targets being adapted to reflect the light beam signal delivered at the first angle; means for directing the delivered light beam signal, during a preselected portion of said rotation and during each revolution of the laser signaling device, at a second different preselected elevational angle relative to the axis of rotation, said second targets being adapted to reflect the light beam signal delivered at the second angle, and said directing means being fixedly attached to the frame and static relative to the laser signaling device; means for receiving a reflection of said light beam signals and delivering a vehicle position signal in response to receiving a reflection of each light beam signal.