The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Feb. 01, 1994
Filed:
Oct. 31, 1988
David F Summerville, Garland, TX (US);
John P Williston, Plano, TX (US);
Martin A Wand, Plano, TX (US);
Thomas J Doty, Dallas, TX (US);
Haradon J Rice, Plano, TX (US);
Texas Instruments Incorporated, Dallas, TX (US);
Abstract
The invention is a method of static collision avoidance for multiple automatically guided vehicles (AGVs) on bidirectional paths. It defines the allowable travel path for an AGV as a series of path segments through or between possible destination points (called nodes) which are defined for the factory floor. AGVs can move to or through any of these nodes and can arrive in a predetermined order, according to 'rules' defined by the method. The invention provides better performance than conventional AGV systems by allowing multiple AGVs to coexist in the same pathways without collision or excessive queueing in systems which use free-roving AGVs having programmable bidirectional paths. This new ability maximizes the degrees of freedom of AGV movement while minimizing collisions and 'deadlock.'