R.j. Reynolds Tobacco Company

Michael F Donovan

William R Jarvis

Thomas W Cearley

Marvin R Martin

William F Summers

Raymond A Gardea, Ii

David C Twine

Aftab Shamb

Kolleen C Hughes

Michael D Shepard

Lonnie M Utt, Jr

William R Hunt, Iii

The system includes a first computer for communicating with automatic guided vehicles on a guided vehicle loop and storing information related to vehicle position. A second computer determines vehicle destinations. The first computer and the second computer maintain separate databases. Information in the data of the first computer relating to vehicle position is copied into the database of the second computer to assist in making vehicle destination determinations and the vehicle destination information stored in the database of the second computer is copied into the first computer. The invention also includes a unique fast and slow polling routine to insure that data transfer to the vehicles requiring it most is achieved in any polling cycle.

Automatic vehicle control system

Growing community of inventors

Advance, NC, United States of America

Michael F Donovan