A method and system are provided for characterizing a vehicle motion of an autonomous mobile robot in response to a triggering event. The method and system involve an autonomous mobile robot and a vehicle processor operable to navigate the autonomous mobile robot. The system further includes a motion characterization system coupled to the autonomous mobile robot, the motion characterization system comprising an odometry system operable to collect vehicle motion data associated with the vehicle motion; a triggering component; a storage component for storing an event start time, an event end time and the vehicle motion data between the event start time and the event end time; and a motion characterization processor operable to: receive an initialization input to initiate the triggering event; generate a trigger signal to cause the triggering component to cause the triggering event; and identify the event start time and an event end time.
Systems and methods for autonomous lineside delivery to an assembly-line using a self-driving vehicle are disclosed, comprising receiving a part-supply schedule having a part identifier identifying a part to be supplied, an assembly-line location to be supplied with the part, and a delivery time for supplying the part to the assembly-line location. A mission is generated based on the schedule, and sent to a self-driving vehicle. The self-driving vehicle executes the mission such that the part is supplied to the assembly-line location in accordance with the part-supply schedule.
Systems and methods for autonomous lineside delivery to an assembly-line using a self-driving vehicle are disclosed, comprising receiving a part-supply schedule having a part identifier identifying a part to be supplied, an assembly-line location to be supplied with the part, and a delivery time for supplying the part to the assembly-line location. A mission is generated based on the schedule, and sent to a self-driving vehicle. The self-driving vehicle executes the mission such that the part is supplied to the assembly-line location in accordance with the part-supply schedule.
Systems and methods for updating an electronic map of a facility are disclosed. The electronic map includes a set of map nodes. Each map node has a stored image data associated with a position within the facility. The method includes collecting image data at a current position of a self-driving material-transport vehicle; searching the electronic map for at least one of a map node associated with the current position and one or more neighboring map nodes within a neighbor threshold to the current position; comparing the collected image data with the stored image data of the at least one of the map node and the one or more neighboring map nodes to determine a dissimilarity level. The electronic map may be updated based at least on the collected image data and the dissimilarity level. The image data represents one or more features observable from the current position.
Systems and methods for providing inter-vehicle communication are disclosed. The method includes receiving, at a fleet management system, operating data from one or more self-driving vehicles via a communication network, and operating the fleet management system to determine a characteristic of a set of vehicles of one or more self-driving vehicles satisfies at least one communication condition. In response to determining the set of vehicles satisfies the at least one communication condition, the fleet management system can operate to select a stored data portion from a manager storage unit based at least on the characteristic of the set of vehicles; and transmit the data portion to the set of vehicles via the communication network. A method of providing inter-vehicle communication between one or more self-driving vehicles is also disclosed.
H04W 4/70 - Services pour la communication de machine à machine ou la communication de type machine
G06Q 10/06 - Ressources, gestion de tâches, des ressources humaines ou de projetsPlanification d’entreprise ou d’organisationModélisation d’entreprise ou d’organisation
G08G 1/127 - Systèmes de commande du trafic pour véhicules routiers indiquant la position de véhicules, p. ex. de véhicules à horaire déterminé à une station centrale
H04W 4/38 - Services spécialement adaptés à des environnements, à des situations ou à des fins spécifiques pour la collecte d’informations de capteurs
6.
SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR MAINTAINING VEHICLE STATE INFORMATION
Systems and methods for monitoring a fleet of self-driving vehicles are disclosed. The system comprises one or more self-driving vehicles having at least one sensor for collecting current state information, a fleet-management system, and computer-readable media for storing reference data. The method comprises autonomously navigating a self-driving vehicle in an environment, collecting current state information using the vehicle's sensor, comparing the current state information with the reference data, identifying outlier data in the current state information, and generating an alert based on the outlier data. A notification based on the alert may be sent to one or more monitoring devices according to the type and severity of the outlier.
Systems and methods for measuring a fleet of self-driving vehicles are disclosed. The system comprises one or more self-driving vehicles, non-transitory computer-readable media in communication with the vehicles, a fleet-management system in communication with the media and vehicles, and a server in communication with the media. The fleet-management system is configured to store vehicle status records comprising a vehicle status pertaining to each of the one or more vehicles, and a timestamp in a vehicle status log on the media. The server has a processor that is configured to generate a fleet-performance report based on the vehicle status log.
G07C 5/08 - Enregistrement ou indication de données de marche autres que le temps de circulation, de fonctionnement, d'arrêt ou d'attente, avec ou sans enregistrement des temps de circulation, de fonctionnement, d'arrêt ou d'attente
G08G 1/123 - Systèmes de commande du trafic pour véhicules routiers indiquant la position de véhicules, p. ex. de véhicules à horaire déterminé
8.
SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR UPDATING AN ELECTRONIC MAP
Systems and methods for updating an electronic map of a facility are disclosed. The electronic map includes a set of map nodes. Each map node has a stored image data associated with a position within the facility. The method includes collecting image data at a current position of a self-driving material-transport vehicle; searching the electronic map for at least one of a map node associated with the current position and one or more neighboring map nodes within a neighbor threshold to the current position; comparing the collected image data with the stored image data of the at least one of the map node and the one or more neighboring map nodes to determine a dissimilarity level. The electronic map may be updated based at least on the collected image data and the dissimilarity level. The image data represents one or more features observable from the current position.
G01C 25/00 - Fabrication, étalonnage, nettoyage ou réparation des instruments ou des dispositifs mentionnés dans les autres groupes de la présente sous-classe
9.
SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR OPERATING ROBOTIC EQUIPMENT IN CONTROLLED ZONES
Systems and methods for operating robotic equipment in a controlled zone are presented. The system comprises one or more self-driving material-transport vehicles having at least one sensor, non-transitory computer-readable media, and a processor in communication with the at least one sensor and media. The media stores computer instructions that configure the processor to move the vehicle towards the controlled zone in a normal mode of operation, capture environmental data associated with the controlled zone using the at least one sensor, determine environmental-change data based on comparing the captured environmental data with known-good environmental data, and operating the vehicle in a safe mode of operation based on the environmental-change data.
B25J 19/00 - Accessoires adaptés aux manipulateurs, p. ex. pour contrôler, pour observerDispositifs de sécurité combinés avec les manipulateurs ou spécialement conçus pour être utilisés en association avec ces manipulateurs
B25J 5/00 - Manipulateurs montés sur roues ou sur support mobile
F16P 3/00 - Dispositifs de sécurité agissant en conjonction avec la commande ou le fonctionnement d'une machineCommandes exigeant l'emploi simultané de plusieurs parties du corps humain
10.
SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR DEPLOYING GROUPS OF SELF-DRIVING MATERIAL-TRANSPORT VEHICLES
Systems and methods for deploying groups of self-driving material-transport vehicles are presented. The system comprises a fleet of self-driving material-transport vehicles having two or more vehicle teams and a fleet-management system. The fleet-management system has a processor and non-transitory computer-readable media comprising instructions that, when executed by the processor, configure the processor to receive a request for an event to be executed, select a vehicle team from within the fleet based on the request, select a vehicle from within the vehicle team, and transmit event directions to the selected vehicle based on the request for the event. The selected vehicle then executes the event directions.
G06Q 10/06 - Ressources, gestion de tâches, des ressources humaines ou de projetsPlanification d’entreprise ou d’organisationModélisation d’entreprise ou d’organisation
Systems and methods for generating a mission for a self-driving material-transport vehicle are presented. The system comprises at least one self-driving material- transport vehicle, at least one programmable logic controller, at least one field instrument, and at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium in communication with at least one processor. An application signal is received from the programmable logic controller based on an activation signal from the field instrument. A mission is generated by the application signal and a mission template, and the mission is transmitted to the self-driving material-transport vehicle. In some cases, the application signal may be based on OPC-UA, and the mission and/or mission template may be based on a REST protocol.
G05D 1/02 - Commande de la position ou du cap par référence à un système à deux dimensions
B60W 50/00 - Détails des systèmes d'aide à la conduite des véhicules routiers qui ne sont pas liés à la commande d'un sous-ensemble particulier
G05B 19/05 - Automates à logique programmables, p. ex. simulant les interconnexions logiques de signaux d'après des diagrammes en échelle ou des organigrammes
12.
APPARATUS, SYSTEMS, AND METHODS FOR PAYLOAD PICK-UP AND DROP-OFF WITH A SELF-DRIVING MATERIAL-TRANSPORT VEHICLE
Apparatus, systems and methods for providing smart pick-up and drop-off are presented. The apparatus comprises at least one vertical support member and at least one storage shelf supported by the at least one vertical support member. A payload transfer surface, supported by the vertical support members, is located below the lowest storage shelf. The payload transfer surface has an access channel so that a self-driving material-transport vehicle equipped with a lift appliance can pick up or drop off a payload on the payload transfer surface. A sensor associated with the payload transfer surface senses the presence or absence of a payload on the payload transfer surface, and sends a signal to a fleet-management system in communication with the self-driving material-transport vehicle.
Systems and methods for process tending with a robot arm are presented. The system comprises a robot arm and robot arm control system mounted on a self-driving vehicle, and a server in communication with the vehicle and/or robot arm control system. The vehicle has a vehicle control system for storing a map and receiving a waypoint based on a process location provided by the server. The robot arm control system stores at programs that is executable by the robot arm. The vehicle control system autonomously navigates the vehicle to the waypoint based on the map, and the robot arm control system selects a target program from the stored programs based on the process location and/or a process identifier.
Systems and methods for a stand-alone self-driving material-transport vehicle are provided. A method includes: displaying a graphical map on a graphical user- interface device based on a map stored in a storage medium of the vehicle, receiving a navigation instruction based on the graphical map, and navigating the vehicle based on the navigation instruction. As the vehicle navigates, it senses features of an industrial facility using its sensor system, and locates the features relative to the map. Subsequently, the vehicle stores the updated map including the feature on the vehicle's storage medium. The map can then be shared with other vehicles or a fleet-management system.
Systems and methods for autonomous provision replenishment are disclosed. Parts used in a manufacturing process are stored in an intermediate stock queue. When the parts are consumed by the manufacturing process and the number of parts in the queue falls below a threshold, a provision-replenishment signal is generated. One or more self-driving material-transport vehicles, a fleet-management system, and a provision-notification device.
B62D 65/00 - Tracé, fabrication, p. ex. assemblage, mesures pour faciliter le désassemblage, ou modification de la structure des véhicules à moteurs ou des remorques, non prévus ailleurs
B25J 5/00 - Manipulateurs montés sur roues ou sur support mobile
Systems and methods for flexible conveyance in an assembly-line or manufacturing process are disclosed. A fleet of self-driving vehicles and a fleet-management system can be used to convey workpieces through a sequence of workstations at which operations are performed in order to produce a finished assembly. An assembly can be transported to a first workstation using a self-driving vehicle, where an operation is performed on the assembly. Subsequently, the assembly can be transported to a second workstation using the self-driving vehicle. The operation can be performed on the assembly while it is being conveyed by the self-driving vehicle.
B62D 65/00 - Tracé, fabrication, p. ex. assemblage, mesures pour faciliter le désassemblage, ou modification de la structure des véhicules à moteurs ou des remorques, non prévus ailleurs
B65G 49/00 - Systèmes transporteurs caractérisés par leur utilisation à des fins particulières, non prévus ailleurs
17.
SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR AUTONOMOUS LINESIDE PARTS DELIVERY TO AN ASSEMBLY LINE PROCESS
Systems and methods for autonomous lineside delivery to an assembly-line using a self-driving vehicle are disclosed, comprising receiving a part-supply schedule having a part identifier identifying a part to be supplied, an assembly-line location to be supplied with the part, and a delivery time for supplying the part to the assembly-line location. A mission is generated based on the schedule, and sent to a self-driving vehicle. The self-driving vehicle executes the mission such that the part is supplied to the assembly-line location in accordance with the part-supply schedule.
G06Q 10/08 - Logistique, p. ex. entreposage, chargement ou distributionGestion d’inventaires ou de stocks
G06Q 10/06 - Ressources, gestion de tâches, des ressources humaines ou de projetsPlanification d’entreprise ou d’organisationModélisation d’entreprise ou d’organisation
G05D 1/02 - Commande de la position ou du cap par référence à un système à deux dimensions
18.
APPARATUS, SYSTEMS, AND METHODS FOR OPERATING AND MAINTAINING ELECTRICALLY-POWERED MATERIAL-TRANSPORT VEHICLES
There is provided an electrically-powered material-transport vehicle having a vehicle-charging contact on one side of the vehicle, and a second vehicle-charging contact on the opposite side of the vehicle. The vehicle has a load-bearing cap that covers the top of the vehicle, and a cap elevator for raising and lowering the cap. The cap can be raised and lowered to a transit position, a payload-engagement position, a charging position, and a maintenance position. In the transit position and payload-engagement position, the cap covers the vehicle-charging contacts so that they are not exposed. In the charging position, the cap is raised so that the vehicle-charging contacts are exposed. The vehicle can enter a charging-dock with the cap in the charging position in order to recharge the vehicle's battery.
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