Methods and apparatus for reducing probabilities of collisions between humans and automated machines operating within a workplace

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10607489-B2
Application number	US-201715666258-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 1, 2017
Priority date	Aug 1, 2017
Publication date	Mar 31, 2020
Grant date	Mar 31, 2020

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for reducing probabilities of collisions between humans and automated machines operating within a workplace are disclosed. An apparatus includes a collision probability determiner to determine a first probability of collision between an automated machine and a wearable safety vest. The apparatus further includes a safety manager to determine whether the first probability of collision exceeds a probability of collision threshold. The apparatus further includes a control signal generator to generate a first control signal in response to the safety manager determining that the first probability of collision exceeds the probability of collision threshold. The first control signal is to be transmitted to the automated machine to adjust an operation of the automated machine.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An operations management apparatus located within a workplace, the operations management apparatus comprising:
a control signal generator configured to generate control signals for controlling directions of travel and rates of travel of respective ones of a plurality of unmanned automated guided vehicles located within a geofence of the workplace and moving relative to one another in a automated manner while performing corresponding workplace operations within the geofence;
a radio transmitter configured to transmit a first control signal generated via the control signal generator from the operations management apparatus to a first unmanned automated guided vehicle from among the plurality of unmanned automated guided vehicles, the first unmanned automated guided vehicle configured to move in a first direction of travel and at a first rate of travel within the geofence in response to receiving the first control signal;
a collision probability determiner configured to determine, subsequent to transmission of the first control signal, a first probability of collision between the first unmanned automated guided vehicle and a wearable safety vest located within the geofence; and
a safety manager configured to determine whether the first probability of collision exceeds a probability of collision threshold, the control signal generator configured to generate a second control signal in response to the safety manager determining that the first probability of collision exceeds the probability of collision threshold, the radio transmitter configured to transmit the second control signal from the operations management apparatus to the first unmanned automated guided vehicle, the first unmanned automated guided vehicle configured to move in a second direction of travel and at a second rate of travel within the geofence in response to receiving the second control signal, at least one of the second direction of travel or the second rate of travel of the first unmanned automated guided vehicle differing from a corresponding one of the first direction of travel or the first rate of travel of the first unmanned automated guided vehicle in a manner that reduces the first probability of collision.

2. The operations management apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first probability of collision is based on travel data including first travel data associated with the first unmanned automated guided vehicle and second travel data associated with the wearable safety vest.

3. The operations management apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the first travel data is based on first location data associated with the first unmanned automated guided vehicle, and the second travel data is based on second location data associated with the wearable safety vest.

4. The operations management apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the first travel data includes a first location, a first direction of travel, and a first rate of travel associated with the first unmanned automated guided vehicle, and the second travel data includes a second location, a second direction of travel, and a second rate of travel associated with the wearable safety vest.

5. The operations management apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the control signal generator is configured to generate a third control signal in response to the safety manager determining that the first probability of collision exceeds the probability of collision threshold, the radio transmitter is configured to transmit the third control signal from the operations management apparatus to the wearable safety vest, and the wearable safety vest is configured to present an alert in response to receiving the third control signal.

6. The operations management apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the alert is one of a visual alert, an audible alert, or a tactile alert.

7. The operations management apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the collision probability determiner is configured to determine a second probability of collision between the first unmanned automated guided vehicle and the wearable safety vest in response to the radio transmitter transmitting the second control signal to the first unmanned automated guided vehicle, the safety manager is configured to determine whether the second probability of collision exceeds the probability of collision threshold, the control signal generator is configured to generate a third control signal in response to the safety manager determining that the second probability of collision exceeds the probability of collision threshold, the radio transmitter is configured to transmit the third control signal from the operations management apparatus to the wearable safety vest, and the wearable safety vest is configured to present an alert in response to receiving the third control signal.

8. A method for managing operations occurring within a workplace, the method comprising:
generating, by executing one or more instructions with a processor of an operations management apparatus located within the workplace, control signals for controlling directions of travel and rates of travel of respective ones of a plurality of unmanned automated guided vehicles located within a geofence of the workplace and moving relative to one another in a automated manner while performing corresponding workplace operations within the geofence;
transmitting, via a radio transmitter of the operations management apparatus, a first control signal generated via the processor from the operations management apparatus to a first unmanned automated guided vehicle from among the plurality of unmanned automated guided vehicles, the first unmanned automated guided vehicle moving in a first direction of travel and at a first rate of travel within the geofence in response to receiving the first control signal;
determining, by executing one or more instructions with the processor subsequent to the transmitting of the first control signal, a first probability of collision between the first unmanned automated guided vehicle and a wearable safety vest located within the geofence;
generating, by executing one or more instructions with the processor, a second control signal in response to determining that the first probability of collision exceeds a probability of collision threshold; and
transmitting, via the radio transmitter, the second control signal from the operations management apparatus to the first unmanned automated guided vehicle, the first unmanned automated guided vehicle moving in a second direction of travel and at a second rate of travel within the geofence in response to receiving the second control signal, at least one of the second direction of travel or the second rate of travel of the first unmanned automated guided vehicle differing from a corresponding one of the first direction of travel or the first rate of travel of the first unmanned automated guided vehicle in a manner that reduces the first probability of collision.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the first probability of collision is based on travel data including first travel data associated with the first unmanned automated guided vehicle and second travel data associated with the wearable safety vest.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the first travel data is based on first location data associated with the first unmanned automated guided vehicle, and the second travel data is based on second location data associated with the wearable safety vest.

11. The method of claim 9 , wherein the first travel data includes a first location, a first direction of travel, and a first rate of travel associated with the first unmanned automated guided vehicle, and the second travel data includes a second location, a second direction of travel, and a sec

Assignees

• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Freeman Roland N
• Boyer Mark James
• Nelson David Wayne
• Rencher Robert John
• Wickline Brandon Edward

Classifications

• G05D2101/10

  using artificial intelligence [AI] techniques · CPC title

• G05D1/633

  Dynamic obstacles · CPC title

• G08G1/166 Primary

  for active traffic, e.g. moving vehicles, pedestrians, bikes · CPC title

• G05D1/0297

  by controlling means in a control room · CPC title

• G05D2201/0216

  Physics · mapped topic