A computer-controlled mobile crane is disclosed herein, comprising a column which is rotatable around its vertical axis, a hydraulically actuated primary arm, a hydraulically actuated secondary arm, an attachment point to which a gripping assembly is attached. The components are actuated by a hydraulic control unit controlled by a computer control unit and corresponding software that generates an internal coordinate system on the basis sensors mounted on the crane and an optical measuring unit. The crane is capable of automatically using the gripping assembly to transport a load from an initial point to and end point where the load should be deposited while avoiding one or more obstacles in the path of travel of the gripping assembly and the load.

A self-maintaining crane system including a bridge, a trolley, a hoist, and sensors for use within a hostile environment, such as a wastewater treatment facility, is presented. The bridge is movable along a pair of runway rails within the hostile environment. The trolley is movable between the runway rails. The hoist with extendable-retractable cable is movable with the trolley. Bridge sensors separately determine whether the bridge has engaged a bridge home position and a bridge end position. The bridge is movable away from the bridge home position and back toward the bridge end position. Trolley sensors separately determine whether the trolley has engaged a trolley home position and a trolley end position. The trolley is movable away from the trolley home position and back toward the trolley end position. Hoist sensors separately determine whether the cable has engaged a hoist home position and a hoist end position. The cable is extendable away from the hoist home position and retractable toward the hoist end position. Sensors facilitate automated movement of bridge, trolley, and cable so as to minimize functional impairment of the crane system by the hostile environment.

A self-maintaining crane system including a bridge, a trolley, a hoist, and sensors for use within a hostile environment, such as a wastewater treatment facility, is presented. The bridge is movable along a pair of runway rails within the hostile environment. The trolley is movable between the runway rails. The hoist with extendable-retractable cable is movable with the trolley. Bridge sensors separately determine whether the bridge has engaged a bridge home position and a bridge end position. The bridge is movable away from the bridge home position and back toward the bridge end position. Trolley sensors separately determine whether the trolley has engaged a trolley home position and a trolley end position. The trolley is movable away from the trolley home position and back toward the trolley end position. Hoist sensors separately determine whether the cable has engaged a hoist home position and a hoist end position. The cable is extendable away from the hoist home position and retractable toward the hoist end position. Sensors facilitate automated movement of bridge, trolley, and cable so as to minimize functional impairment of the crane system by the hostile environment.

An overhead transport vehicle includes a gripping unit to grip an article, an suspension unit by which the gripping unit is suspended, a drive unit that reels up the suspension unit to thereby raise the gripping unit, a detection unit to detect swing of the gripping unit, and a controller that controls the drive unit to reel up the suspension unit and store the gripping unit into the transport vehicle body. In reel-up control to reel up the suspension unit, when swing of the gripping unit exceeds a predetermined width, the controller stops reeling up the suspension unit, maintains the gripping unit at a standby position lower than a storage position, and then, reels up the suspension unit when the swing of the gripping unit becomes equal to or less than the predetermined width.

An overhead transport vehicle includes a gripping unit to grip an article, an suspension unit by which the gripping unit is suspended, a drive unit that reels up the suspension unit to thereby raise the gripping unit, a detection unit to detect swing of the gripping unit, and a controller that controls the drive unit to reel up the suspension unit and store the gripping unit into the transport vehicle body. In reel-up control to reel up the suspension unit, when swing of the gripping unit exceeds a predetermined width, the controller stops reeling up the suspension unit, maintains the gripping unit at a standby position lower than a storage position, and then, reels up the suspension unit when the swing of the gripping unit becomes equal to or less than the predetermined width.

Systems and methods for object guidance and collision avoidance are provided. One system includes a location sensor disposed on a movable crane. The system also includes a plurality of sensors disposed on a plurality of objects within a facility. The system further includes a controller having a receiver for monitoring signals transmitted from the location sensor disposed on a movable crane and the plurality of sensors disposed on a plurality of objects within the facility. The controller is configured to generate a travel path for the movable crane to move an object coupled with the movable crane based on the one or more intersection regions and generate an output signal to an alarm device to provide an alert, when at least one object of the plurality of objects is within a predetermined proximity of at least the object being moved by the crane.

A method of operating an article transport system includes deriving a predicted transport request time-point of a target apparatus from pre-collected operation data of the article transport system, calling a transport vehicle of the article transport system at a time-point prior to the derived predicted transport request time-point, and moving the called transport vehicle to the target apparatus.

A method of operating an article transport system includes deriving a predicted transport request time-point of a target apparatus from pre-collected operation data of the article transport system, calling a transport vehicle of the article transport system at a time-point prior to the derived predicted transport request time-point, and moving the called transport vehicle to the target apparatus.

Working equipment system includes a working equipment, a control unit, a monitoring unit, and a processing unit. The monitoring unit is configured to receive a first data set including predefined equipment data, a second data set including operation data based on sensor signals, a unique identifier for the working equipment, and a time stamp for the second data set. The processing unit is configured to calculate a time series of wear indicator values based on the stored first and second data sets, to estimate a predicted lifetime of the working equipment by extrapolating the indicator values, to compare the predicted lifetime with a target lifetime, and to select an operation mode in dependence of the comparison such that the predicted lifetime corresponds to the target lifetime. The processing unit is configured to transmit the selected operation mode to the control unit that is configured to apply the selected operation mode.

Working equipment system includes a working equipment, a control unit, a monitoring unit, and a processing unit. The monitoring unit is configured to receive a first data set including predefined equipment data, a second data set including operation data based on sensor signals, a unique identifier for the working equipment, and a time stamp for the second data set. The processing unit is configured to calculate a time series of wear indicator values based on the stored first and second data sets, to estimate a predicted lifetime of the working equipment by extrapolating the indicator values, to compare the predicted lifetime with a target lifetime, and to select an operation mode in dependence of the comparison such that the predicted lifetime corresponds to the target lifetime. The processing unit is configured to transmit the selected operation mode to the control unit that is configured to apply the selected operation mode.