Systems and methods for providing an industrial cart for a grow pod

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10602676-B2
Application number	US-201815934436-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 23, 2018
Priority date	Jun 14, 2017
Publication date	Mar 31, 2020
Grant date	Mar 31, 2020

Abstract

A cart having a wheel, a drive motor coupled to the wheel such that an output of the drive motor causes the wheel to rotate and propel the cart, a cart-computing device communicatively coupled to the drive motor; and one or more sensors communicatively coupled to the cart-computing device, the one or more sensors generating one or more signals in response to a detected event. The cart-computing device receives a communication signal and electrical power via the wheel. The communication signal corresponds to one or more instructions for controlling an operation of the cart. The cart-computing device receives the one or more signals from the one or more sensors. The cart-computing device generates and transmits a control signal to the drive motor to cause the drive motor to operate based on at least one of the one or more signals generated by the one or more sensors or the communication signal.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A cart comprising:
a wheel;
a drive motor coupled to the wheel such that an output of the drive motor causes the wheel to rotate and propel the cart;
a cart-computing device communicatively coupled to the drive motor; and
one or more sensors communicatively coupled to the cart-computing device, the one or more sensors generating one or more signals in response to a detected event,
wherein:
the cart-computing device receives an electrical signal via the wheel, wherein the electrical signal comprises a communication signal and electrical power,
the communication signal corresponds to one or more instructions for controlling an operation of the cart,
the cart-computing device receives the one or more signals from the one or more sensors, and
the cart-computing device generates and transmits a control signal to the drive motor to cause the drive motor to operate based on at least one of the one or more signals generated by the one or more sensors or the communication signal.

2. The cart of claim 1 , wherein the wheel electrically couples with the drive motor and the cart-computing device such that the electrical power received by the wheel powers the drive motor and the cart-computing device.

3. The cart of claim 1 , wherein the communication signal corresponds to one or more instructions that cause the drive motor to operate at a speed and a direction.

4. The cart of claim 1 , wherein the control signal generated by the cart-computing device causes the drive motor to operate at a speed and a direction.

5. The cart of claim 1 , wherein the one or more signals generated by the one or more sensors include a signal indicative of a distance between the one or more sensors and the detected event.

6. The cart of claim 1 , wherein the detected event corresponds to detecting, with the one or more sensors, a presence of a second cart and the one or more signals generated by the one or more sensors include a signal indicative of a distance between the cart and the second cart.

7. The cart of claim 1 , wherein the detected event corresponds to detecting, with the one or more sensors, detection of a location marker and the one or more signals generated by the one or more sensors indicate a particular location identified by the location marker.

8. The cart of claim 1 , wherein:
the one or more sensors include a trailing sensor coupled to the cart to generate the one or more signals in response to the detected event behind the cart,
the detected event corresponds to detection of a presence of a trailing cart behind the cart,
the one or more sensors generate the one or more signals that include a signal indicative of a distance between the cart and the trailing cart, and
in response to the one or more signals, the cart-computing device generates a first control signal that decreases a speed of the drive motor when the distance between the cart and the trailing cart is above a threshold value and the cart-computing device generates a second control signal that increases the speed of the drive motor when the distance between the cart and the trailing cart is below the threshold value.

9. The cart of claim 1 , wherein:
the one or more sensors include a leading sensor coupled to the cart to generate the one or more signals in response to the detected event in front of the cart,
the detected event corresponds to detection of a presence of a leading cart in front of the cart,
the one or more sensors generate the one or more signals that include a signal indicative of a distance between the cart and the leading cart, and
in response to the one or more signals, the cart-computing device generates a first control signal that decreases a speed of the drive motor when the distance between the cart and the leading cart is below a threshold value and the cart-computing device generates a second control signal that increases the speed of the drive motor when the distance between the cart and the leading cart is above the threshold value.

10. The cart of claim 1 , wherein the cart includes a tray for growing at least one of the following: a plant, a seedling, or a seed.

11. A system comprising:
a track;
a master controller communicatively coupled to the track; and
a plurality of carts supported on the track, at least one cart of the plurality of carts comprising:
a wheel supported on the track and electrically coupled to the track,
a drive motor coupled to the wheel such that an output of the drive motor causes the wheel to rotate and propel the at least one cart along the track,
a cart-computing device communicatively coupled to the drive motor, and
one or more sensors communicatively coupled to the cart-computing device, the one or more sensors generating one or more signals in response to a detected event,

wherein:
the cart-computing device receives, via the track and the wheel, an electrical signal wherein the electrical signal comprises a communication signal transmitted from the master controller and electrical power,
the communication signal, generated by the master controller, corresponds to one or more instructions for controlling an operation of the at least one cart,
the cart-computing device receives the one or more signals from the one or more sensors, and
the cart-computing device generates and transmits a control signal to the drive motor to cause the drive motor to operate based on at least one of the following: the one or more signals or the communication signal.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the wheel electrically couples with the drive motor and the cart-computing device such that the electrical power from the track powers the drive motor and the cart-computing device.

13. The system of claim 11 , wherein the communication signal, transmitted by the master controller to the cart-computing device of the at least one cart via the track and the wheel of the at least one cart, corresponds to one or more instructions that cause the drive motor to operate at a speed and a direction.

14. The system of claim 11 , wherein the track further comprises a first electrically conductive portion and a second electrically conductive portion separated by a non-conductive portion such that the first electrically conductive portion transmits a first electrical power signal that is separate from a second electrical power signal transmitted by the second electrically conductive portion and the at least one cart is configured to select either electrical power from either the first electrical power signal or the second electrical power signal when traversing the track from the first electrically conductive portion to the second electrically conductive portion.

15. The system of claim 11 , wherein:
a leading cart of the plurality of carts is positioned behind a trailing cart of the plurality of carts on the track,
the one or more sensors of the leading cart detect a presence of the trailing cart and generate the one or more signals indicative of a distance between the leading cart and the trailing cart,
the cart-computing device of the leading cart receives the one or more signals from the one or more sensors and, in response, adjusts the operation of the drive motor through the control signal,
the control signal generated by the cart-computing device causes the drive motor of the leading cart to decrease in speed, when the distance between the leading cart and the trailing cart is above a threshold value, and
the control signal generated by the cart-computing device causes the drive motor to increase in speed, when the distance between the leading cart and the trailing cart is below t

Assignees

• Grow Solutions Tech Llc

Inventors

• Millar Gary Bret
• Stott Mark Gerald
• Tueller Todd Garrett
• Hurst Michael Stephen
• Bentley Alan Ray
• Woodbury Taylor John
• York Shane

Classifications

• G05B19/4189

  characterised by the transport system · CPC title

• B61B13/02

  Rack railways · CPC title

• B60L5/04

  using rollers or sliding shoes in contact with trolley wire (B60L5/40 takes precedence) · CPC title

• A01G31/042

  with containers travelling on a belt or the like, or conveyed by chains · CPC title

• B61L15/0027

  Radio-based, e.g. using GSM-R · CPC title