Patent ID: 6629028
Filing Date: 2003-09-30
Classification: G05D

Abstract:
An optical guidance method of one or more mobile bodies contained movably in a predetermined environment, comprising projecting a light beam by a light projection device to produce a light beacon on a surface on which the mobile bodies move, said light beacon is moved to an arbitrary position by moving a direction of said light beam by said light projection device whereby the light beacon indicates an arbitrary target position toward which a mobile body is to move, wherein the light beacons produced on said surface on which the mobile bodies are to move are detected by the use of a visual device of a mobile body mounted thereon, and a relative positional relationship between the target positions represented by the light beacons and a present position of the mobile body in question is obtained by means of image data processing or signal processing, whereby the mobile body in question is controlled so as to move towards the light beacons produced on said surface on which the mobile bodies are to move.