Electric field guidance system for automated vehicles

Patent · Tue Apr 07 00:00:00 EDT 1987

OSTI ID:6637166

Houskamp, R W

An automated vehicle guidance system is described having one or more self-propelled vehicles adapted to follow a predetermined guidepath having path signal generating means for generating signals and the guidepath. Each of the vehicles includes guidepath sensing means for sensing the position of the guidepath with respect to the vehicle. A signal generating means is connected to the sensing means for generating an intelligence signal representative of the position of the vehicle with respect to the guidepath. The improvement is described wherein: the path signal generating means comprises means for exciting the guidepath with an AC voltage signal referenced to an earth ground; the guidepath sensing means comprises electric field sensing means for sensing the strength of the electric field resulting from the voltage signal; and the signal generating means is connected to the electric field sensing means and is responsive to the sensed strength of the electric field for generating the intelligence signal.

• Assignee: Litton Automation Systems, Inc., Zeeland, MI
• Patent Number(s): US 4656406
• OSTI ID: 6637166
• Resource Relation: Patent File Date: Filed date 20 Sep 1985
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
VEHICLES
ELECTRONIC GUIDANCE
ALTERNATING CURRENT
ELECTRIC FIELDS
ELECTRIC POTENTIAL
NAVIGATIONAL INSTRUMENTS
POSITIONING
SIGNALS
CONTROL SYSTEMS
CURRENTS
ELECTRIC CURRENTS
320203* - Energy Conservation
Consumption
& Utilization- Transportation- Land & Roadway