JP7487990B1 - Transport vehicle travel control system and transport vehicle travel control method - Google Patents

Abstract

[Problem] To provide a transport vehicle travel control system and a transport vehicle travel control method that can achieve both improved stopping accuracy and improved travel efficiency. [Solution] The transport vehicle control system according to the present disclosure is a transport vehicle travel control system that is characterized by comprising a control unit that determines whether a distance d from a current position to a destination position is equal to or less than a predetermined value, and, if it is determined that the distance d is equal to or less than the predetermined value, controls the travel speed of the transport vehicle so that the relationship between the distance d, the travel speed v, and the constant k satisfies the formula [A]: v = sqrt(2*k*d) [A] [Selected Figure] Figure 1

Description

The present disclosure relates to a transport vehicle travel control system and a transport vehicle travel control method.

In recent years, the use of autonomous automated guided vehicles has come into practical use to transport luggage within facilities such as factories and warehouses. For example, there are known guided vehicles that travel along predetermined guidelines laid out within the facility, autonomously travel without guidelines, or combine these methods. Patent Document 1 proposes a technology for driving a guided vehicle to a destination by setting a travel speed for each section of the travel route.

JP 2012-053837 A

The technology described in Patent Document 1 discloses that when a transport vehicle travels along a line, it travels at a set speed of either 1st to 4th gear or creep speed. However, there is room for improvement in terms of achieving both improved stopping accuracy and improved travel efficiency.

Therefore, the present disclosure has been made in consideration of at least one of the above problems, and its purpose is to provide a transport vehicle travel control system and a transport vehicle travel control method that can achieve both improved stopping accuracy and improved travel efficiency.

According to the present disclosure, there is provided a travel control system for a transport vehicle, comprising:
determining whether a distance d from the current position to the destination position is equal to or smaller than a predetermined value;
A transport vehicle driving control system is provided, which is characterized by having a control unit that controls the driving speed of the transport vehicle so that the relationship between the distance d, the driving speed v, and the constant k satisfies equation [A] when it is determined that the distance d is equal to or less than a predetermined value.
v = sqrt(2*k*d) [A]

According to the present disclosure, there is provided a method for controlling travel of a transport vehicle, comprising:
The control unit determines whether or not a distance d from the current position to the destination position is equal to or less than a predetermined value;
A method for controlling the running of a transport vehicle is provided, characterized in that when it is determined that the distance d is equal to or less than a predetermined value, the running speed of the transport vehicle is controlled so that the relationship between the distance d, the running speed v, and the constant k satisfies equation [A].
v = sqrt(2*k*d) [A]

According to the present disclosure, it is possible to provide a transport vehicle travel control system and a transport vehicle travel control method that can achieve both improved stopping accuracy and improved travel efficiency.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an example of a hardware configuration of a transport vehicle according to the present embodiment. FIG. 2 is a bottom view showing an example of a hardware configuration of the transport vehicle according to the embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration when a transport vehicle and a towing cart according to the present embodiment are coupled together. FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating another example of a hardware configuration when the transport vehicle and the towing cart according to the present embodiment are coupled together. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a motion area according to the present embodiment; 13 is a diagram showing the positional relationship between the guide line and the transport vehicle when the guide line detection unit detects the two-dimensional code that constitutes the guide line. FIG. 13 is a bottom view showing the positional relationship between the guide line and the transport vehicle when the guide line detection unit detects the magnetic tape that constitutes the guide line. FIG. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of an overall configuration diagram of a conveying system according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of an overall control device according to the present embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a functional configuration of a transport vehicle according to the present embodiment. 10 is a diagram showing an example of the travel speed of a transport vehicle in this embodiment based on the travel distance. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of the travel speed of a transport vehicle based on time in this embodiment. FIG. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of the travel speed of a transport vehicle based on the travel distance as a comparative example. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of the travel speed of a transport vehicle based on time as a comparative example. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a control flow of a control system in the present embodiment.

A preferred embodiment of the present disclosure will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that in this specification and the drawings, components having substantially the same functional configuration are designated by the same reference numerals to avoid redundant description.

In logistics warehouses and manufacturing plants, it is necessary to stop transport vehicles and transported items such as carts and pallets at a specified position and orientation in a specified manner in order to coordinate with on-site work. For example, it is necessary to transport the transported items so that the worker can pick up the luggage placed on the transported items without moving, by stopping the cart at a coordinated position with the belt conveyor or by pulling up next to the worker's work position. In order to coordinate with the belt conveyor as described above or to pull up next to the worker's work position, a highly accurate transport operation is required. In addition, simply slowing down the speed to increase the accuracy of the stopping position will reduce the transport efficiency. In addition, when transporting a relatively heavy transported item, a large inertial force is applied to the transport vehicle, making it difficult to manage the speed, and it is also difficult to stop it at the intended position.

The hardware configuration of the transport vehicle and the towed cart will be described using Figures 1 to 4. Figure 1 is a perspective view showing an example of the hardware configuration of the transport vehicle according to this embodiment. The transport vehicle in this example is an unmanned transport vehicle, but it can also be applied to various vehicles that people can ride in. Arrow 15 in Figure 1 indicates the direction of travel of the transport vehicle. As shown in Figure 1, the transport vehicle is equipped with a coupling unit 11 for switching between a coupled and uncoupled state with the cart, an object position detection unit 12 for detecting objects around the transport vehicle, drive wheels 13, and non-driven wheels 14.

Mounted on the top side of the transport vehicle are a connecting section 11 and an object position detection section 12. The connecting section 11 is, for example, composed of an actuator, and is configured such that when connecting to a trolley, the actuator is extended upward to connect to a connecting receiving section (not shown) on the trolley side, and when disconnecting, the actuator is retracted to disconnect the connecting section from the connecting receiving section on the trolley side. The connecting section 11 is also arranged at four positions surrounding the drive wheels 13 of the transport vehicle on a flat surface, and can be connected to the trolley at five points. In this embodiment, an example having four connecting sections is described, but the number of connecting sections does not necessarily have to be five, and any number greater than one can be selected.

The object position detection unit 12 is a device that detects the distance from the transport vehicle to an object. Examples of the object position detection unit 12 include a laser distance sensor (such as LiDAR (Light detection and ranging)) that measures the distance and direction to an object by irradiating a laser beam and measuring the time it takes for the laser beam to bounce back after hitting the object, a millimeter wave radar that detects the distance to an object based on a millimeter wave transmission signal and a received signal that is reflected by the object and returns, and a camera-type distance sensor that measures the distance to an object by photographing the object with a camera and analyzing the photographed image. In this embodiment, an example is shown in which the object position detection unit 12 is disposed on the top surface of the transport vehicle in front of the traveling direction, but instead, it may be disposed on the front side in the traveling direction. Also, it may be disposed not only in front but also on the rear side or both left and right sides in the traveling direction.

The object position detection unit 12 may be configured to detect objects in a 360-degree range around the transport vehicle, but is configured to detect objects at least in front of the transport vehicle's travel direction 15.

Figure 2 is a bottom view showing an example of the hardware configuration of the transport vehicle according to this embodiment. Drive wheels 13 are provided on the bottom of the transport vehicle at both the left and right sides with respect to the travel direction 15 of the transport vehicle, and non-driven wheels 14 are provided in front of and behind each of the drive wheels 13. The drive wheels 13 are wheels that are connected to the rotating shaft of a motor and are driven, and the right drive wheel and the left drive wheel are controlled individually. The control unit can control the speed of the transport vehicle by controlling the rotation speed of the drive wheels. The control unit can also control the rotation speed and rotation direction of each drive wheel individually, making it possible to make the transport vehicle run in a curve or to rotate the transport vehicle on the spot to change direction. The non-driven wheels 14 are wheels that are not driven and rotate passively as the transport vehicle moves with the drive wheels 13. The non-driven wheels 14 have, for example, forks that fix the wheels and axles, and the forks are composed of rotating casters that are rotatably connected to the bottom member of the transport vehicle. Therefore, the wheel rotation direction of the non-driven wheels 14 changes passively according to the travel direction and rotation operation of the transport vehicle. Figure 2 illustrates an example of the hardware configuration of a transport vehicle having two driven wheels and four non-driven wheels at the four corners, but the present invention is not limited to this hardware configuration, and it is also possible to adopt a configuration with a total of four wheels, two driven wheels and two non-driven wheels, and it is also possible to adopt a configuration in which the front wheels are steerable in the four-wheel configuration.

The bottom surface of the transport vehicle is provided with a guide line detection unit 16 that detects the guide line. The guide line detection unit 16 is preferably provided further forward in the direction of travel of the transport vehicle than the drive wheels 13. This makes it easier for the transport vehicle to travel by following the guide line when traveling in a position where the guide line is curved, and also allows the transport vehicle and the towing cart to receive information from the guide line as soon as possible as they proceed, thereby enabling them to quickly execute processing such as stopping. The guide line detection unit uses a sensor according to the type of guidance method as described above. When the electromagnetic induction method is used as the guidance method, a pickup coil is used as the sensor for the guide line detection unit; when the magnetic induction method is used, a magnetic sensor is used; and when the image recognition method is used, a camera is used.

Figure 3 shows an example of the hardware configuration when the transport vehicle and towing cart according to this embodiment are coupled, specifically showing an example in which the transport vehicle 10 couples with the cart while sliding underneath the cart to be towed. At this time, a mortar-shaped coupling receiver is placed on the bottom of the cart at a position corresponding to the cone-shaped coupling part 11, and the cart can be coupled by extending the coupling part 11 upward, and the cart can be released from the coupling by retracting the coupling part 11.

Figure 4 shows another example of the hardware configuration when the transport vehicle and the towing dolly according to this embodiment are coupled. In the example shown in Figure 4, the transport vehicle is coupled to the dolly while being located next to the dolly 2000. The dolly has a connection receiving part 2010 that connects to at least a part of the connection part 11 of the transport vehicle, and can be coupled to the dolly by extending the connection part 11 upward, and can be released from the dolly by contracting the connection part 11. In Figures 3 and 4, an example is shown in which the connection part 11 composed of an actuator or the like on the upper surface of the transport vehicle is expanded and contracted in the vertical direction to couple and release the connection with the dolly, but the method of coupling the transport vehicle and the dolly is not limited to this, and other coupling methods may be used. In addition, the transported object coupled to the transport vehicle is not limited to the dolly, and may be, for example, a pallet or cabinet without wheels. When transporting a pallet or cabinet, the transport vehicle slips under the pallet or cabinet and is coupled in a state of lifting the pallet or cabinet.

Figure 5 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the operating area 130 according to this embodiment. As shown in Figure 3, a guide line 131 is laid in the operating area 130, and when a transport vehicle traveling in an autonomous driving mode detects the guide line 131 at a preset driving mode switching position 132, the travel control mode is switched from the autonomous driving mode to the guided driving mode. Conversely, when a transport vehicle traveling in the guided driving mode on the guide line enters the preset driving mode switching position 132, the travel control mode is switched from the guided driving mode to the autonomous driving mode. In order to guide the transport vehicle to a position close to a shelf or a belt conveyor where luggage is stored, or a work position of a worker, a track consisting of the guide line 131 is laid in a position close to the shelf or work position via multiple branching points.

A guided vehicle 10 traveling in an autonomous driving area where no guide lines are installed in autonomous driving mode changes its driving mode to a guided driving mode that follows the guide lines when it enters driving mode switching position 132 and detects a guide line 131. On the other hand, when a guided vehicle traveling in guided driving mode on a guide line enters driving mode switching position 132, the driving control mode switches from the guided driving mode to the autonomous driving mode, and the guided vehicle leaves the guide line and starts autonomous driving.

As the induction lines 111 and 131 shown in Fig. 5, various induction methods that have been used in the past can be applied, as described below. Specifically, for example, an electromagnetic induction method in which a pickup coil on the carrier detects a magnetic field generated by passing a weak alternating current through a metal wire installed as an induction line, a magnetic induction method in which a magnetic sensor on the carrier reads a magnetic tape laid on the floor as an induction line, or an image recognition method in which a camera on the carrier takes an image of a code (such as a barcode or two-dimensional code) laid on the floor as an induction line and processes the image can be applied.

Figure 6 shows the positional relationship between the guide line and the transport vehicle when the guide line detection unit 16 detects the two-dimensional code that constitutes the guide line. The guide line is formed by printing multiple two-dimensional codes, such as two-dimensional code 1000, with code information printed on a two-dimensional plane, lined up in the direction in which the guide line is laid. When the guide line detection unit 16 detects a two-dimensional code, it acquires position information of the two-dimensional code based on the code information acquired from the two-dimensional code.

Figure 7 shows the positional relationship between the guide line and the transport vehicle when the magnetic tape that constitutes the guide line is detected by the guide line detection unit 16. The guide line detection unit 16 shown in Figure 13 is configured to have multiple magnetic sensors 17 that detect magnetic tape arranged horizontally in the direction of travel of the transport vehicle. Each of the multiple magnetic sensors 17 provided in the guide line detection unit 16 outputs a detection signal indicating whether or not a magnetic tape has been detected. In the case shown in Figure 22, the three magnetic sensors 17A located in the center of the guide line detection unit 16 detect the magnetic tape, and the two magnetic sensors 17B on each side of the guide line detection unit 16 do not detect the magnetic tape.

<Conveyor System Configuration>
Next, the configuration of the transport system of this embodiment will be described. Figure 8 is a diagram showing an example of the overall configuration of the transport system according to this embodiment. The transport system 1000 includes a plurality of transport vehicles (10a, 10b), a dolly 2000 which is a transported object, a control device 3000 which can display the state of the transport vehicle or input commands to the transport vehicle, a general control device 4000 which manages information required for the operation of the transport vehicle, an input/output device 5000 which displays information of the general control device and inputs information to the general control device, and a communication network 6000 which communicably connects the plurality of transport vehicles (10a, 10b), the control device 3000, and the general control device 4000.

The transport system 1000 can also be connected to an external system 7000 via the communication network 6000. When the transport system 1000 is introduced into a manufacturing factory to transport parts required for manufacturing from a storage facility to a manufacturing line, the transport system 1000 performs inter-system coordination with a manufacturing management system as the external system 7000. In this case, by obtaining information on the operational progress of the manufacturing work from the manufacturing management system, the transport volume and transport route by the transport vehicle can be dynamically adjusted according to the progress of the manufacturing work.

As another example, if the transport system 1000 is introduced into a logistics warehouse to transport cargo from an entrance to a storage facility when cargo is brought into the warehouse by truck or the like, and to transport cargo to an exit when cargo is shipped from the storage facility, the transport system 1000 will perform inter-system coordination with a logistics management system as an external system 7000. In this case, by obtaining information related to the arrival and departure from the logistics management system, the amount of cargo transported by the transport vehicle and the transport route can be changed.

In facilities where a transport system is installed, multiple transport vehicles (10a, 10b) are generally in operation, and each transport vehicle is communicatively connected to other transport vehicles and other components via a communication network 6000. For example, the transport vehicle transmits various detection information detected by its own detection unit and other control information to the control device 3000, the overall control device 4000, and other transport vehicles 10. The transport vehicle 10 is also electrically connected to the trolley 2000 or communicatively connected via short-range communication means, and is configured to be able to receive information about the connection state and trolley identification information from the trolley.

The control device 3000 has a function to display status information of each transport vehicle and a function to input commands to a specified transport vehicle. For example, the status information of the transport vehicles displayed on the control device includes the identification information of each transport vehicle, its position (coordinates, position on a map), speed, direction, driving history, information on the charge level of the battery mounted on the transport vehicle and serving as the power source for the transport vehicle, and identification information of the transported object such as a cart transported by the transport vehicle. Examples of commands to be input to the transport vehicle include command information regarding the destination (destination position) of the transport vehicle, operation commands to couple and uncouple from the cart, commands to start the transport vehicle, commands to stop the transport vehicle, and commands to return to the charging station.

Figure 9 shows a configuration diagram of the overall control device 4000 in this embodiment. The overall control device 4000 has a status information recording unit 4010 that records status information of multiple transport vehicles operating in the facility area, an operation scenario management unit 4020 that manages operation scenarios of the multiple transport vehicles, a map management unit 4030 that generates and updates a map of the work area based on detection information of the transport vehicles including detection information of the guide lines acquired by the guide line detection unit of the transport vehicles, an abnormality determination unit 4040 that determines abnormalities in the guide lines and the transport vehicles based on the detection information of the transport vehicles, and a communication unit 4050 that communicates with an external input/output device 5000 and a communication network 6000.

The status information of the transport vehicles recorded by the status information recording unit 4010 includes, for example, obstacle detection positions detected by multiple transport vehicles in operation, guided line detection positions, history information of the transport vehicle's travel positions, as well as battery charge amount information, identification information of the trolley connected to the multiple transport vehicles, operation modes of the multiple transport vehicles (guided travel mode or autonomous travel mode), various other detection information detected by the transport vehicle detection unit 230, map information of the work area, etc. The operation scenario managed by the operation scenario management unit 4020 includes, for example, information on the destination of each of the multiple transport vehicles, the multiple operations to be performed before reaching the destination, the operation sequence of the multiple operations, and switching conditions for the multiple operations.

The map management unit 4030 generates a map including the position information of obstacles and guide lines in the work area based on the obstacle detection position detected by the transport vehicle, the guide line detection position, and the history information of the transport vehicle's running position. Furthermore, the map management unit 4030 updates the position information of the guide lines registered in the map based on the information of the detection position of the guide lines accumulated by one or more transport vehicles.

The abnormality determination unit 4040 determines abnormalities in the guide lines and the transport vehicle based on the position information of the guide lines registered in the map information and the detection information of the transport vehicle including the detection position information of the guide lines detected by the transport vehicle. Details of the control flow for determining abnormalities in the guide lines and the vehicle by the abnormality determination unit 4040 will be described later.

The input/output device 5000 displays information recorded in the status information recording unit 4010 of the overall control device 4000, map information (including map update information), and the results of judgment by the abnormality judgment unit, and can add or update new operation scenarios by inputting operation scenarios managed by the operation scenario management unit 4020. Information input to the input/output device 5000 includes, for example, that the destination of an arbitrary transport vehicle is the working area A of the guided driving area 110, the operation content for entering the guided driving area 110 and reaching the working area A, operation switching conditions, and the like.

<Functions of the transport vehicle>
The functions of the transport vehicle will be described with reference to Fig. 10. Fig. 10 is a diagram showing the functional configuration of the transport vehicle according to this embodiment. The transport vehicle 10 includes a communication unit 210 that communicates with a dolly 2000 outside the transport vehicle and a communication network 6000, a recording unit 220 (including a storage unit), a detection unit 230 equipped with various sensors described later, a coupling unit 11 for coupling with the dolly, a wheel driving unit 280 that drives the wheels, an input unit 240, a display unit 250, and a control unit 260 that controls the operation of the wheel driving unit 280, etc.

The recording unit 220 has a function of recording information received from the outside by the communication unit 210, detection information detected by the detection unit 230, and information generated and output by the control unit. The recording unit 220 can store information such as the destination position, movement route, and movement history of the transport vehicle. The recording unit 220 can store speed information according to the distance to the destination position, calculation formula (program) information for calculating the speed information, and the like.

The detection unit 230 includes an object position detection unit 12, a guide line detection unit 16, a travel distance detection unit 233, a collision detection unit 234, a posture detection unit 235, and a charge amount detection unit 236. As described above, the object position detection unit 12 includes a laser distance sensor (such as LiDAR (Light detection and ranging)) that measures the distance and direction to an object by irradiating a laser beam and measuring the time it takes for the beam to bounce back after hitting the object, a millimeter wave radar that detects the distance to an object based on a millimeter wave transmission signal and a received signal that is reflected by the object and returns, or a camera-type distance sensor that measures the distance to an object by photographing the object with a camera and analyzing the photographed image. The control unit can estimate information on the current position and current speed of the transport vehicle based on the information from the detection unit. The detection unit 230 includes a position sensor including a GNSS that detects the current position of the transport vehicle, and a speed sensor that detects the speed of the transport vehicle.

As described above, the guidance line detection unit 16 uses a sensor according to the type of guidance method. When the guidance method is an electromagnetic induction method, a pickup coil is used as the sensor for the guidance line detection unit. When the magnetic induction method is used, a magnetic sensor is used. When the image recognition method is used, a camera is used. When the guidance line detection unit is located directly above the guidance line, it detects the guidance line and outputs a detection signal. In addition to the detection signal for the guidance line, in the case of an image recognition method in which a camera reads a guidance line using a two-dimensional code or barcode, position information is generated based on the information of the detected code, and further, by examining the image information of the code, relative angle information between the guidance line and the transport vehicle can be generated.

The travel distance detection unit 233 detects the number of rotations of the non-driven wheels 14 or the driven wheels 13, and can measure the travel distance and travel speed of the transport vehicle based on the detection information of the number of rotations and the information on the diameter (or circumference) of the non-driven wheels or the driven wheels (in this case, the travel distance detection unit 233 can function as a speed sensor). As an alternative, it is also possible to apply a means for detecting the travel speed of the transport vehicle using a millimeter wave sensor that irradiates millimeter waves on the floor surface and detects reflected waves, and estimating the travel distance by integrating the travel speed. In addition, any method for measuring the travel distance or acquiring the travel speed other than the above-mentioned methods can be applied.

The collision detection unit 234 has a function of detecting that the transport vehicle collides with an object or a person. Specifically, it is possible to detect acceleration using a gyro sensor or the like, and determine that a collision has occurred when a sudden change in acceleration is detected. As an alternative, it is also possible to apply a means of providing a physical switch together with a bumper at the front of the transport vehicle in the traveling direction, and determining that a collision has occurred when the physical switch is pressed. In addition, a collision detection method other than the above can be applied. When the collision detection unit 234 detects a collision, it stops the transport vehicle, records at least one of the collision occurrence information and the collision occurrence position information in the recording unit, and notifies the information to the overall control device 4000 and the control device 3000. The attitude detection unit 235 detects the direction (attitude) of the vehicle based on a magnetic compass, information on the rotation speed of the left and right drive wheels, or steering information of the wheels.

The charge amount detection unit 236 detects the charge amount of the battery, which is the power source of the transport vehicle. When the charge amount detected by the charge amount detection unit 236 falls below a predetermined value, it determines that charging is necessary, records the detection information of the decrease in charge amount in the recording unit, and notifies the information to the general control device 4000 and the control device 3000. Furthermore, when it is detected that the charge amount is below a predetermined value, in addition to the above processing, it may be configured to automatically move to a charging spot and charge. The predetermined value for the charge amount detection unit 236 to determine that charging is necessary may be a value set in advance based on at least one of the distance to the destination set for the transport vehicle and the weight of the transported object connected to the transport vehicle.

The input unit 240 is composed of a physical switch or a touch panel mounted on the transport vehicle, and allows the user to directly input operation commands, etc. to the transport vehicle. The display unit 250 is composed of, for example, a liquid crystal panel mounted on the transport vehicle, and can display status information of the transport vehicle (various detection information from the detection unit 230, the type of driving mode, the currently running operation scenario, etc.).

The control unit 260 includes an operation determination unit 261, a mode switching unit 262, a connection control unit 263, a display control unit 264, a position estimation unit 265, and a driving control unit 266. The operation determination unit 261 determines the operation of the self-guided vehicle based on the operation scenario of the self-guided vehicle acquired from the operation scenario management unit 4020.

The mode switching unit 262 switches the travel mode of the transport vehicle between a guided travel mode and an autonomous travel mode based on conditions predetermined by an operation scenario or the like, or commands input by the input unit 240. The connection control unit 263 controls the operation of the connection unit 11 based on conditions predetermined by an operation scenario or the like, or commands input by the input unit 240, and controls connection/disconnection with a transported object such as a cart. The display control unit 264 controls the input IF of the input unit 240 and the display unit 250 described above.

The position estimation unit 265 can estimate the position at a given time including the current position of the vehicle in the entire driving area based on the travel distance detected by the travel distance detection unit 233, the information on the direction of the vehicle detected by the attitude detection unit 235, and the map information of the entire area recorded in the recording unit 220. Alternatively, it is also possible to estimate the position of the vehicle in the entire driving area based on the information on the distance and direction from the vehicle to an object measured by the object position detection unit 12 and the map information of the entire area recorded in the recording unit 220. Alternatively, when the vehicle is traveling on a guide line formed by a two-dimensional code, it is also possible to estimate the position of the vehicle in the entire driving area based on the identification information of the two-dimensional code and the above map information. The position estimation unit 265 can also acquire position information using a GNSS or the like provided in the transport vehicle.

The position estimation unit 265 can estimate the position where an object exists based on the estimated vehicle position information and the distance information from the vehicle to the object detected by the object position detection unit 12. In addition, the position estimation unit 265 estimates the installation position of the guide line based on the vehicle position information when the guide line detection unit 16 detects the guide line.

The travel control unit 266 controls the travel of the transport vehicle based on at least one of the determination information by the operation determination unit 261 and the mode switching unit 262. The travel control unit 266 can control the forward movement, backward movement, stopping, turning, and the moving speed and turning speed of the transport vehicle. Specifically, it individually controls the right wheel drive unit 281 and the left wheel drive unit 282 of the wheel drive unit 280. The right wheel drive unit 281 and the left wheel drive unit 282 are composed of, for example, a motor, and by individually controlling the rotation speed and rotation direction of each drive wheel, it becomes possible to make the transport vehicle travel in a curve with an arbitrary trajectory radius or to rotate the transport vehicle to change direction.

The control unit 260 determines whether the distance d from the current position to the destination position is equal to or less than a predetermined value, and when it determines that the distance d is equal to or less than the predetermined value, it can control the travel speed of the transport vehicle so that the relationship between the distance d, the travel speed v, and the constant k satisfies the formula [A]. That is, by applying the numerical value of the distance d and the preset constant k to the formula [A], the target travel speed v at that time point is determined, and the control unit can control the drive wheels (the motor in this example) to achieve that speed v.
v = sqrt(2*k*d) [A]

Here, the predetermined value from the current position to the destination position for determining whether or not to apply formula [A] may be any numerical value, for example, 10 cm, 50 cm, 1 m, 10 m, 20 m, etc., and is set in advance and stored in the memory unit.

In the travel control method of this embodiment, the control unit 260 calculates the distance d to the destination position during the process of moving to the destination position (S101), for example as shown in Fig. 15. Note that while the distance to the destination position is equal to or greater than a predetermined distance, the transport vehicle is controlled to travel at the maximum speed (vmax) among the allowable speeds in order to increase transport efficiency.

The control unit 260 determines whether the distance d is equal to or smaller than a predetermined value (e.g., 10 m) (S102). If the distance d exceeds the predetermined value, the current speed (vmax) is maintained, and if the distance d is equal to or smaller than the predetermined value, the control unit 260 calculates a target speed according to the distance d based on the above formula [A] (S103).

The control unit 260 then controls the drive wheels to control the vehicle's running so as to achieve the speed calculated in S103 (S104).

The control unit 260 repeats steps S101 to S104 above until the target position is reached. This allows the speed to be increased until the target position is approached (the distance d becomes equal to or less than a predetermined value), and once the target position is approached, appropriate speed management can be used to ensure stable travel and improve stopping accuracy. In other words, it is possible to achieve both improved stopping accuracy of the transport vehicle and improved travel efficiency.

Here, Fig. 11 is a diagram showing an example of the movement speed of the transport vehicle in this embodiment based on the movement distance, and Fig. 12 is a diagram showing an example of the movement speed of the transport vehicle based on time. Fig. 13 is a diagram showing an example of the movement speed of the transport vehicle as a comparative example based on the movement distance, and Fig. 14 is a diagram showing an example of the movement speed of the transport vehicle in Fig. 13 based on time.

For example, when trying to reduce the speed linearly according to the distance x as shown in Figure 13, the speed according to the time t becomes nonlinear as shown in Figure 14, and there is a risk that the traveling will become unstable as the target position is approached. In particular, when transporting a heavy object, it is difficult to move stably at a low speed.

On the other hand, according to this embodiment, for example, as shown in Figure 12, the degree of speed reduction according to time t becomes linear, so that driving is stable even when approaching the destination position, and as shown in Figure 11, the driving distance at low speed is also shortened, so that the travel time to the destination position is also shortened.

The control unit 260 may execute a process of calculating the distance d based on the difference between the current position acquired from the position estimation unit 265 and the destination position acquired from the storage unit. Alternatively, the distance d may be acquired by associating information on the distance d with a two-dimensional code laid on the floor and reading the code with the transport vehicle.

The control unit 260 may control the travel speed of the transport vehicle based on speed information acquired by a speed sensor of the transport vehicle. For example, the control unit 260 compares the target speed determined based on the distance d with the current speed of the transport vehicle, and controls the transport vehicle to accelerate if the current speed is smaller than the target speed, and controls the transport vehicle to decelerate if the current speed is larger than the target speed.

The control unit 260 may execute a process of calculating the distance d at every predetermined fixed period. The fixed period may be, for example, 0.01 seconds, 0.02 seconds, 0.05 seconds, 0.1 seconds, 1 second, etc., and may be stored in the storage unit in advance. The control unit 260 may execute a process of calculating the distance d at a shorter period as the distance d becomes smaller (i.e., closer to the destination) without being limited to a fixed period. On the other hand, the control unit 260 may execute a process of calculating the distance d at a shorter period as the distance d becomes larger. The control unit 260 may acquire or estimate its own position and acquire or estimate its speed at every fixed or non-fixed predetermined period, similar to the process of calculating the distance d.

The control unit 260 may calculate an appropriate torque value for the motor that drives the drive wheels based on the traveling speed v. For example, the control unit 260 may calculate a torque value corresponding to the traveling speed v based on a relational expression between the traveling speed v and the motor torque value that is stored in advance in the storage unit. By controlling the motor based on the appropriate torque value, it is possible to further improve the stopping accuracy.

The control unit 260 may acquire the current position by scanning a two-dimensional code placed on the road surface. This allows the current position information to be acquired quickly and easily. When the control unit detects that the transport vehicle has passed the destination position based on the current position information, it is also possible to control the travel of the transport vehicle to return to the destination position.

In the above embodiment, the control mode is changed when the distance d to the destination position is greater than a predetermined value, and when the distance d becomes equal to or less than the predetermined value, and the travel of the transport vehicle is controlled so that the travel speed satisfies formula [A]. However, the control mode may be further switched before the transport vehicle reaches the destination position. For example, when the distance d to the destination position becomes equal to or less than a first value (the above-mentioned predetermined value), the travel speed may be controlled in a first mode so as to satisfy formula [A], and then, when the distance d becomes equal to or less than a second value smaller than the first value, the control mode of the transport vehicle may be controlled in a second mode. In other words, the control unit may switch the control mode of the transport vehicle in two stages depending on the distance d.

In the second mode, the moving speed may be a predetermined constant speed, or may be a speed that gradually decreases according to the distance d at a rate different from that in the first mode. When the speed is gradually decreased in the second mode, the speed may be decreased as a linear function (linearly) or as a quadratic function with the distance to the destination (travel distance x) as the horizontal axis.

In the second mode, the attitude (angle) of the transport vehicle relative to the extension direction of the travel path (for example, relative to the extension direction of the guide line) may be detected, and if the transport vehicle deviates from the travel path direction by a predetermined value (for example, 1°, 5°, etc.) or more, the attitude may be controlled (turned) so that the attitude approaches the travel path direction. In this way, the accuracy of the stop position can be further improved by checking and correcting the angle deviation. In addition, such detection of the attitude may be repeated every predetermined period (a predetermined fixed period, or a non-fixed fixed period). In addition, the control unit can detect the traveling direction (the front direction of the transport vehicle) using, for example, an attitude sensor of the transport vehicle. In addition, the control unit may detect the extension direction of the guideline by the detection unit, or data on the position and extension direction of the guideline may be stored in advance in a map of the storage unit.

Although the preferred embodiment of the present disclosure has been described in detail above with reference to the attached drawings, the technical scope of the present disclosure is not limited to such examples. It is clear that a person with ordinary knowledge in the technical field of the present disclosure can conceive of various modified or revised examples within the scope of the technical ideas described in the claims, and it is understood that these also naturally fall within the technical scope of the present disclosure.

The devices described in this specification may be realized as a single device, or may be realized by multiple devices (e.g., cloud servers) partially or completely connected via a network. For example, the control unit 260 and the recording unit 220 of the transport vehicle may be realized by different servers connected to each other via a network. In addition, in the transport system described in this specification, an example has been described in which the control device 3000, the overall control device 4000, and the input/output device 5000 are each configured as separate hardware connected via a network, but some or all of the functions of the control device 3000, the overall control device 4000, and the input/output device 5000 may be implemented in the transport vehicle 10.

The series of processes performed by the device described in this specification may be realized using software, hardware, or a combination of software and hardware. A computer program for realizing each function of the control unit 260 according to this embodiment may be created and implemented in a PC or the like. A computer-readable recording medium on which such a computer program is stored may also be provided. Examples of the recording medium include a magnetic disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, and a flash memory. The above computer program may also be distributed, for example, via a network, without using a recording medium.

In addition, the processes described in this specification using flow chart diagrams do not necessarily have to be performed in the order shown. Some processing steps may be performed in parallel. Also, additional processing steps may be employed, and some processing steps may be omitted.

In addition, the effects described herein are merely descriptive or exemplary and are not limiting. In other words, the technology disclosed herein may provide other effects that are apparent to a person skilled in the art from the description herein, in addition to or in place of the above effects.

Note that the following configurations also fall within the technical scope of the present disclosure.
(Item 1)
A travel control system for a transport vehicle,
determining whether a distance d from the current position to the destination position is equal to or smaller than a predetermined value;
A transport vehicle driving control system characterized by having a control unit that controls the traveling speed of the transport vehicle when it is determined that the distance d is equal to or less than a predetermined value so that the relationship between the distance d, the traveling speed v, and the constant k satisfies equation [A].
v = sqrt(2*k*d) [A]
(Item 2)
2. The cruise control system according to claim 1, wherein the control unit executes a process of calculating the distance d based on a difference between the current position acquired from a position estimation unit and the destination position acquired from a storage unit.
(Item 3)
3. The travel control system according to claim 1, wherein the control unit controls a travel speed of the transport vehicle based on speed information acquired by a speed sensor of the transport vehicle.
(Item 4)
3. The cruise control system according to claim 1, wherein the control unit executes a process of calculating the distance d at predetermined regular intervals.
(Item 5)
3. The driving control system according to claim 1, wherein the control unit calculates an appropriate torque value of a motor that drives a driving wheel based on the driving speed v.
(Item 6)
3. The cruise control system according to claim 1, wherein the current position is acquired by scanning a two-dimensional code installed on a road surface.
(Item 7)
A method for controlling travel of a transport vehicle, comprising:
The control unit determines whether or not a distance d from the current position to the destination position is equal to or less than a predetermined value;
A method for controlling the running of a transport vehicle, characterized in that, when it is determined that the distance d is equal to or less than a predetermined value, the running speed of the transport vehicle is controlled so that the relationship between the distance d, the running speed v, and the constant k satisfies equation [A].
v = sqrt(2*k*d) [A]

LIST OF SYMBOLS 10: Transport vehicle, 11: Connection unit, 12: Object position detection unit, 13: Drive wheel, 14: Non-drive wheel, 16: Guide line detection unit, 17: Magnetic sensor, 130: Operation area, 131: Guide line, 132: Travel mode switching position, 210: Communication unit, 220: Recording unit, 230: Detection unit, 240: Input unit, 250: Display unit, 260: Control unit, 280: Wheel drive unit, 2000: Cart, 2010: Connection receiving unit, 3000: Control device, 4000: Overall control device, 5000: Input/output device, 6000: Communication network, 7000: External system

Claims (8)

A travel control system for a transport vehicle that connects and transports transport objects ,
repeatedly determining whether a distance d from the current position to the destination position is equal to or smaller than a predetermined value;
When it is determined that the distance d is equal to or less than a first value, the travel speed of the transport vehicle is controlled in a first mode in which the relationship between the distance d, the travel speed v, and a constant k satisfies formula [A];
a control unit that switches a driving mode from the first mode to a second mode when it is determined that the distance d is equal to or less than a second value smaller than the first value , and controls the driving speed of the transport vehicle so that the speed decreases linearly in accordance with the distance d at a predetermined rate in the second mode that is different from that in the first mode.
v = sqrt(2*k*d) [A] 2. The travel control system according to claim 1, wherein in the second mode, the control unit detects a relative angle of the transport vehicle with respect to an extension direction of a predetermined travel path, and when the relative angle is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, controls the attitude of the transport vehicle so that it approaches the travel path. The cruise control system according to claim 1 , wherein the control unit executes a process of calculating the distance d based on a difference between the current position acquired from a position estimation unit and the destination position acquired from a storage unit. The driving control system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the control unit controls the driving speed of the transport vehicle based on speed information acquired by a speed sensor of the transport vehicle. The driving control system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the control unit executes a process for calculating the distance d at predetermined intervals. The driving control system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the control unit calculates an appropriate torque value of a motor that drives the driving wheels based on the driving speed v. The driving control system according to claim 1 or 2, which acquires the current position by scanning a two-dimensional code installed on the road surface. A method for controlling travel of a transport vehicle that connects and transports transport objects, comprising:
The control unit repeatedly determines whether or not a distance d from the current position to the destination position is equal to or smaller than a predetermined value;
When it is determined that the distance d is equal to or less than a first value, the travel speed of the transport vehicle is controlled in a first mode in which the relationship between the distance d, the travel speed v, and a constant k satisfies formula [A];
A method for controlling the travel of a transport vehicle , characterized in that when it is determined that the distance d is equal to or less than a second value smaller than the first value, the travel mode is switched from the first mode to a second mode, and the travel speed of the transport vehicle is controlled so that the speed decreases linearly in accordance with the distance d at a predetermined rate in the second mode that is different from that in the first mode.
v = sqrt(2*k*d) [A]

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