US 11,703,881 B2
Method of controlling a guide machine and a navigation system
Xiao Sheng Chen, Pok Fu Lam (HK); Guang Bo Li, Pok Fu Lam (HK); Kin Keung Lee, Pok Fu Lam (HK); and Leung Chiu, Pok Fu Lam (HK)
Assigned to Logistics and Supply Chain Multi Tech R&D Centre Limited, Pok Fu Lam (HK)
Filed by Logistics and Supply Chain MultiTech R&D Centre Limited, Pok Fu Lam (HK)
Filed on Mar. 19, 2020, as Appl. No. 16/823,558.
Prior Publication US 2021/0294347 A1, Sep. 23, 2021
Int. Cl. G05D 1/02 (2020.01); G05D 1/00 (2006.01)
CPC G05D 1/0259 (2013.01) [G05D 1/0022 (2013.01); G05D 1/0033 (2013.01); G05D 1/0238 (2013.01); G05D 1/0242 (2013.01); G05D 1/0255 (2013.01)] 22 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of controlling a guide machine, comprising the steps of:
providing a plurality of signal sources within a predetermined area, the plurality of signal sources arranged to form an array of signal sources;
providing a guide machine with a plurality of unidirectional antennas installed around the guide machine, the plurality of unidirectional antennas orthogonally arranged, to receive electromagnetic signals emitted from the plurality of signal sources facing the plurality of unidirectional antennas;
receiving, by the plurality of unidirectional antennas, electromagnetic signals emitted from one or more of the plurality of signal sources;
processing the electromagnetic signals to identify the locations of the signal sources;
determining a current position of the guide machine with reference to the locations of the signal sources; and
determining a path for the guide machine to travel from the current position to a destination in the predetermined area;
wherein the method further comprises the step of providing a plurality of unidirectional antennas surrounding the guide machine along the plane, the plurality of unidirectional antennas are orthogonally arranged to receive electromagnetic signals emitted from the plurality of signal sources facing the plurality of unidirectional antennas, and
wherein the array of signal sources comprises an array of RFID tags disposed under a ground surface, wherein each signal source of the array of signal sources comprises a first RFID tag and a second RFID tag arranged orthogonally to the first RFID tag, the first and second RFID tags being positioned at a given location with record information of the given location, the first RFID tag emitting electromagnetic signals along a first direction and the second RFID emitting electromagnetic signals along a second direction orthogonal to the first direction.