CPC Class H04W

A system for monitoring and controlling a manufacturing environment is disclosed. Aspects discussed include beacons broadcasting identifying information for aspects of the manufacturing environment such as workstations, manufactured items, machines, equipment, and people. The identifying information may be used to generate reports about the operation of these and possibly other aspects, as well as provide control options for changing the manufacturing environment. Employees may move about the environment to visually monitor activities taking place, while the system may automatically query for additional information about the tools, equipment, people encountered in the environment. Control options for changing aspects of the manufacturing processes may also be automatically displayed as well.

A target-following carrier is disclosed. The target-following carrier includes a target-end device, a moving carrier and a target following assembly. The target-following carrier provided by the present invention utilizes two techniques to detect the distance between a target and the moving carrier. When said detected distance is shorter than a control exchange distance, distance data from laser rangefinders replace that from two RF modules. Therefore, a relative-distanced following can be applied to the target. Meanwhile, the target following assembly can be made compact to mount on any moving carriers, such as a smart luggage or a golf cart, fulfilling the requirements from the market.

A system and a method for following a target are disclosed. The system includes steps of: A. providing a signal transmitting RF module mounted on a target, a signal receiving RF module on a moving carrier, and at least 3 laser rangefinders aside the signal receiving RF module; B. calculating an estimated distance and a directional angle; C. driving the moving carrier toward the target while maintaining the directional angle substantially 0 degree; D. repeating step B and step C until the estimated distance is shorter than a control exchange distance; E. dynamically tracking the target by one of the laser rangefinders so that a relative distance between said laser rangefinder and the target can be successively calculated while calculating the estimated distance and the directional angle; and F. driving the moving carrier to keep the relative distance within a predetermined range and maintain the normal direction substantially toward the target.

Autonomous vehicles may be dynamically directed to rendezvous with autonomous vehicle trains or convoys. Current location and/or route information of the Autonomous Vehicle Train (AVT) may be received by an autonomous vehicle. The autonomous vehicle may compare its current location and/or route information to determine a rendezvous point with the AVT. The autonomous vehicle may route itself to the rendezvous point with the AVT. Once there, the autonomous vehicle may verify the identification of the AVT, such as by using sensors/cameras to verifying a lead vehicle of the AVT (e.g., by verifying make/model, color, and/or license plate). The autonomous vehicle and lead vehicle may communicate to allow the autonomous vehicle to join the AVT. A minimum level of autonomous vehicle functionality may be verified prior to the autonomous vehicle being allowed to join the AVT. As a result, vehicle traffic flow and travel experience by passengers may be enhanced.