Patent ID: 9670690
Date: 2017-06-06
CPC Classifications: E04H,G05D

Claim:
1. A parking facility, comprising: a floor; a plurality of magnet arrays affixed to the floor at specified positions in the parking facility, each of the magnet arrays having a plurality of magnets arranged in a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns, the rows and columns of the magnet arrays being perpendicular to one another, the magnets being disposed with positive and negative poles of the magnets in each of the magnet arrays defining a unique signature for the respective magnet array that is different from the signature for each of the other magnet arrays; and an automated guided vehicle having at least one drive mechanism, a Hall effect sensor array, and a controller; wherein the at least one drive mechanism of the automated guided vehicle is configured for moving the automated guided vehicle along the floor of the parking facility; wherein the Hall effect sensor array of the automated guided vehicle has a plurality of Hall effect sensors arranged in a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns, the rows and columns of the Hall effect sensor array being perpendicular to one another; wherein the controller of the automated guided vehicle is configured for controlling the at least one drive mechanism based at least in part on information sensed by the Hall effect sensor array as the automated guided vehicle moves along the floor of the parking facility in proximity to the magnet arrays.