Developing an auto-tracking automated guided vehicle carrier using a wave-varied detecting method

摘要

Robots are widely used in modern industrial manufacturing, in households, in the entertainment sector, and in the security sector. In recent times, because of the increasing lifetime for old people, the concept of lifestyles of health and sustainability is prevailing. To facilitate a heavily loaded hand-carrier when aged people are travelling or working outside, an intelligent automated guided vehicle (AGV) is necessary. In this article, an intelligent and interactive AGV is developed. In order to develop the auto-tracking carrier for an AGV within an unlimited working space, a dynamic distance measuring system using the speed variation between a radio wave and an ultrasonic wave propagating in the air is adopted. The microchip PIC 18F452 is used as the control core. To facilitate the targeted functions, interactivity in conjunction with high quality sensors plays an essential role. By using a wireless transmitter (radio ray) and an ultrasonic transmitter on the user's waist angled towards the sensors at the front of the AGV, the distance between the user and the AGV can be calculated. To avoid colliding with a barrier, an ultrasonic transmitter is installed on both sides of the AGV. Subsequently, a controller based on fuzzy thinking will actuate the motor's motion enabling it to follow and dodge barriers. Consequently, a prototype AGV has been manufactured and successfully tested in the laboratory.