Highly Dynamic Automated Guided Vehicle (AGV) Navigation System using Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) Platform in Confined Production Plant

Abstract:

The present invention relates to a vehicle automation system and method. The system includes a loader system, a tracking device, a sensor, a predictor, and a diverter. The method including the steps of loading a map of an environment into a vehicle automation device associated with a vehicle, the map having a planned path and one or more predetermined waypoints along the path, triggering the vehicle automation device to cause the vehicle to travel along the path and in between the waypoints, detecting for the presence of an unfamiliar object along the path, the detection is based on map information, or real-time environment information if the unfamiliar object is absent from the map information, determining one or more additional waypoints by means of an approximation technique if an unfamiliar object is detected, and rerouting the vehicle to travel along a path in between the one or more additional waypoints and then to the nearest predetermined waypoint.