A free-ranging automated guided vehicle incorporating navigation and radio communication for use in a fully automated flexible manufacturing system has been developed. A vehicle, operating as a complete subsystem, was built and tested in an integrated control environment and proved to have promising results. various radio communication techniques are examined and the design and testing of a low cost, wireless, two way communication link is detailed. A novel, flexible infrared
navigation technique was developed and incorporated into the AGV subsystem. Path planning and a flexible real time path
modification system was formulated using an innovative program with an interpolative visual display unit and digitiser. Data transfer to and from the vehicles in a real time integrated system is covered. System integration for an free-ranging automatic guided vehicle is discussed covering aspects of communication, mapping and navigation. Specific needs for a free-ranging automatic guided vehicle, are presented. The unique design features of navigation and mapping outlined in this thesis has resulted in a low cost, free-ranging, autonomous automatic guided vehicle. / Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of Natal, Durban, 1992.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:ukzn/oai:http://researchspace.ukzn.ac.za:10413/9094 |
| Date | January 1992 |
| Creators | Asbury, James. |
| Contributors | Katz, Z. |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | en_ZA |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
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