Patents Assigned to Control Engineering Company
  • Patent number: 5434781
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for guiding a driverless vehicle along a path defined by a guide cable carrying a current in a horizontal road surface includes mounting a first coil, having a major coil axis, at +45 degrees relative to the horizontal on said vehicle, mounting a second coil, having a major coil axis, at -45 degrees relative to the horizontal on said vehicle such that the axes of said first and second coils intersect, sensing both the radial and circular field vectors of the electromagnetic field with each coil, comparing the magnitude of the radial vector with the magnitude of the circular vector for each coil whereby the lateral position of the intersection point of the axes of the coils is determined relative to the guide cable to indicate the lateral displacement of the vehicle relative to said path, and using the displacement information in the vehicle steering system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 18, 1995
    Assignee: Control Engineering Company
    Inventors: Cornell W. Alofs, Ronald R. Drenth