Patent ID: 8428770
Filing Date: 2013-04-23
Classification: G05B,Y02P

Abstract:
1. A control system for carriers moving along guideways, comprising: MCUs (monitoring and control units) assigned to contiguous regions along guideways, each MCU including processor means that are active for monitor and control of a passing carrier during movement of the passing carrier through its assigned region, said processor means including position means for developing position data defining the distance of travel of said passing carrier since entering said assigned region, wherein said MCUs are arranged for sending data rearwardly from each active processor means to the next active processor means behind, each active processor means being operative to respond to corresponding control data to a passing carrier to maintain a safe following distance behind a carrier ahead, wherein data that is received by a next active processor means behind in response to data sent rearwardly from an active processor means ahead includes speed data as to the speed of the carrier ahead and distance data that corresponds to the sum of said position data and data as to the assigned lengths of any intervening MCUs with inactive processor means.