Systems and methods for object guidance and collision avoidance

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9914624-B2
Application number	US-201615189779-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 22, 2016
Priority date	Jun 22, 2016
Publication date	Mar 13, 2018
Grant date	Mar 13, 2018

Abstract

Systems and methods for object guidance and collision avoidance are provided. One system includes a location sensor disposed on a movable crane. The system also includes a plurality of sensors disposed on a plurality of objects within a facility. The system further includes a controller having a receiver for monitoring signals transmitted from the location sensor disposed on a movable crane and the plurality of sensors disposed on a plurality of objects within the facility. The controller is configured to generate a travel path for the movable crane to move an object coupled with the movable crane based on the one or more intersection regions and generate an output signal to an alarm device to provide an alert, when at least one object of the plurality of objects is within a predetermined proximity of at least the object being moved by the crane.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system for object guidance and collision avoidance, the system comprising:
a location sensor configured to be disposed on a movable crane, and to transmit first location data indicating a location of a portion of the movable crane;
a plurality of sensors configured to be disposed on a plurality of objects within a facility, wherein each sensor of the plurality of sensors is configured to transmit respective second location data that indicates a location of an object on which the sensor is disposed; and
a controller including a receiver configured to receive the first location data from the location sensor and the second location data from the plurality of sensors while the movable crane is moving, the controller configured to determine, based on the first location data and the second location data, a first travel path of the movable crane and one or more intersection regions of the first travel path of the movable crane relative to a location of at least one object of the plurality of objects, and wherein the controller is further configured to:
generate a second travel path for an item coupled to the movable crane, wherein the second travel path is selected from among a plurality of travel paths based on a speed criterion associated with the item and a safety criterion associated with the second travel path, wherein the second travel path is dynamically updated based further on third data specific to the item coupled to the movable crane, and wherein the third data indicates dimensions of the item; and
generate an output signal to an alarm device responsive to at least one object of the plurality of objects being within a predetermined proximity of the item.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein an average speed of the item associated with movement along the second travel path is greater than average speeds associated with movement along other travel paths of the plurality of travel paths that are associated with safety values that satisfy the safety criterion.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to generate a matrix including dynamically updated first location data and to dynamically update the second travel path based on the dynamically updated first location data.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to generate one of an audible, visible or tactile alert.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of sensors comprise radiofrequency identification (RFID) t tags, and wherein the receiver comprises an RFID reader.

6. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a safety range sensor configured to be disposed on a hook of the movable crane, and to demarcate a safe operating radius around the hook.

7. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a display configured to display the first travel path of the movable crane.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to change the first travel path of the movable crane based on the one or more intersection regions that change based on a changed location of one or more of the objects of the plurality of objects within the facility.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to stop movement of the movable crane based on a location of the movable crane in the one or more intersection regions.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to determine direction of travel data of the movable crane relative to the plurality of objects.

11. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a database defining object specific information, wherein the controller is configured to use the object specific information to generate the first travel path of the movable crane.

12. The system of claim 1 , wherein the movable crane comprises an overhead crane in an aircraft manufacturing facility, and wherein the item comprises one or more parts used in the manufacture of an aircraft.

13. The system of claim 1 , wherein a particular sensor of the plurality of sensors is configured to transmit signals including an end location of an end portion of the movable crane.

14. A method for object guidance and collision avoidance, the method comprising:
monitoring, via a controller, first location data indicating a location of a portion of a movable crane moving an item- and second location data indicating a location of the item while the movable crane is moving;
determining, via the controller, based on the first location data and based on the second location data, a first travel path of the movable crane and an intersection region of the first travel path of the movable crane relative to a location of at least one object of a plurality of objects located in a facility in which the movable crane is moving;
generating a second travel path for the item, wherein the second travel path is selected from among a plurality of travel paths based on a speed criterion associated with the item and a safety criterion associated with the second travel path;
generating via the controller a matrix including dynamically updated first location data;
dynamically update the second travel path based on the dynamically updated first location data; and
generating an output signal to an alarm device responsive to at least one of the plurality of objects being within a predetermined proximity of the item.

15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising:
receiving, at the controller from a location sensor positioned on the movable crane, the first location data; and
receiving, at the controller from a plurality of sensors positioned on the plurality of objects, the second location data, wherein the plurality of sensors comprise radio frequency identification (RFID) tags.

16. The method of claim 14 , further comprising changing the first travel path of the movable crane based on the intersection region that change based on a changed location of one or more objects of the plurality of objects.

17. The method of claim 14 , further comprising stopping movement of the movable crane based on a location of the movable crane in the intersection region.

18. A smart overhead crane comprising:
a hook for supporting an object to be moved within a facility, wherein a safety range sensor is coupled to the hook; and
a controller having a receiver for monitoring signals transmitted from the safety range sensor and a plurality of location sensors disposed on a plurality of objects within the facility while the hook is moving, wherein the controller is configured to:
generate a travel path for the hook to move the object based on location data generated at the plurality of location sensors, wherein the travel path is selected from among a plurality of travel paths based on a speed criterion associated with the object and a safety criterion associated with the travel path;
generate a second travel path for an item coupled to the hook, wherein the second travel path is dynamically updated based further on third data specific to the item coupled to the hook, and wherein the third data indicates dimensions of the item; and
generate an output signal to an alarm device to provide an alert, when at least one object of the plurality of objects is within a safety range of the hook as determined by the safety range sensor.

19. The smart overhead crane of claim 18 , wherein a value corresponding to the speed criterion is maximized subject to the safety criterion.

20. The smart overhead crane of claim 18 , wherein the safety range sensor comprises a photoelectric sensor.

Assignees

• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Fulton Jonathan
• LOUBIER Whitney
• Mathew Shibin
• Mi Wei
• Pinion Andrew

Classifications

• B25J9/1676

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