SENSOR SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR USE WITH AN AUTOMATED GUIDED VEHICLE (AGV)

摘要

A sensor system for use with an automated guided vehicle (AGV) includes a plurality of sensor units electronically coupled to a sensor control module via parallel communications. Each sensor unit may include a sensor array having a plurality of sensor elements, a conditioning circuit having one or more filter/amplifiers, and a conversion circuit. The sensor control module may be configured to communicate with other AGV components via serial communications. The sensor system is capable of obtaining and storing sensor readings with or without associated offset values and can use the sensor readings to determine the center of a magnetic field using methods that require relatively little processing power. A method of calibrating the sensor system may include determining and storing offset values for a plurality of sensor elements and may be performed with the sensor system installed or uninstalled to the AGV.

主权项

1. A sensor system for use with an automated guided vehicle (AGV), comprising:
a sensor housing being attached to the AGV; and a sensor board being at least partially located within the sensor housing and including a plurality of sensor units electronically coupled to a sensor control module, wherein each of the sensor units interacts with an indicating system that follows a pre-determined path along the ground and each of the sensor units includes:
a sensor array having a plurality of sensor elements, the sensor elements take sensor readings regarding the position of the AGV with respect to the indicating system;a conditioning circuit being electronically coupled to the sensor array and having a plurality of filter/amplifiers, the filter/amplifiers process the sensor readings from the sensor array; anda conversion circuit being electronically coupled to the conditioning circuit, the conversion circuit converts the sensor readings from the conditioning circuit for transmission to the sensor control module.