US 12,189,400 B2
Automated guided vehicle management system and method
Simon Ware, Singapore (SG); Yajuan Sun, Singapore (SG); Bo Woon Jeffrey Soon, Singapore (SG); Liyong Lin, Singapore (SG); and Rong Su, Singapore (SG)
Assigned to Delta Electronics Int'l (Singapore) Pte Ltd, Singapore (SG)
Filed by Delta Electronics Int'l (Singapore) Pte Ltd, Singapore (SG)
Filed on Oct. 17, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/381,056.
Application 18/381,056 is a division of application No. 17/020,515, filed on Sep. 14, 2020, granted, now 11,829,157.
Claims priority of application No. 10201914066T (SG), filed on Dec. 31, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2024/0045444 A1, Feb. 8, 2024
Int. Cl. G05D 1/00 (2024.01); B60L 53/12 (2019.01); B60L 53/36 (2019.01); B60L 58/12 (2019.01); G01C 21/20 (2006.01)
CPC G05D 1/0287 (2013.01) [B60L 53/12 (2019.02); B60L 53/36 (2019.02); B60L 58/12 (2019.02); G01C 21/206 (2013.01); G05D 1/0088 (2013.01); G05D 1/0217 (2013.01); G05D 1/0225 (2013.01)] 11 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An automated guided vehicle (AGV) management system, comprising:
a battery recharge management controller configured for managing a plurality of AGVs to be recharged by at least one wireless charging unit in a parking area, wherein the battery recharge management controller is adapted to ensure that any of the plurality of AGVs leaving the parking area has a battery charge higher than a charge threshold;
a task management controller configured for receiving tasks and assigning the tasks to the plurality of AGVs, wherein each of the tasks comprises information including at least one pick-up location, at least one drop-off location, a destination and a due time, wherein the due time of a task is a time for completing the task; and
an AGV path planning controller configured for planning paths for the plurality of AGVs, respectively, according to the information of the tasks,
wherein the task management controller is further configured to examine whether a battery charge of an AGV of the plurality of AGVs is sufficient to carry out a task among the tasks, and if the battery charge of the AGV is sufficient to carry out the task, delay assigning the task to the AGV when the AGV is expected to complete the task earlier than the due time of the task, and if the battery charge of the AGV is not sufficient to carry out the task, assign the AGV to be recharged and assign the task to another AGV of the plurality of AGVs; and
wherein if a battery charge of a first AGV among the plurality of AGVs, which is currently recharged by the at least one wireless charging unit, is more than 1) the charge threshold and 2) a sum of a preset charge value and a battery charge of a second AGV among the plurality of AGVs, which is not currently recharged by the at least one wireless charging unit, the battery recharge management controller is further configured to assign the second AGV to be recharged by the at least one wireless charging unit in replace of the first AGV.