Method for operating a transport system and corresponding transport system

Abstract

The exemplary embodiments of the invention relate to methods for operating a transport system, which have a large number of transport mechanism and means. The invention further relates to a corresponding transport system.

Claims

1. A method for operating a transport system, comprising: a plurality of independent transport means, which are assembled into a total set of transport means that includes all the transport means in the transport system, the plurality of transport means are modular and can move independently of one another, and are emission-free, the method comprising: receiving a transport means request at a central control unit of said transport means, the transport means request containing information about and characteristic parameters of a vehicle to be transported, selecting a subset of transport means from the total set of transport means such that the subset of transport means, based on the information and parameters in the transport means request, includes a sufficient number of transport means that are suitable for the vehicle to be transported, and autonomously conveying the subset of transport means from respective remote locations to a transport starting location, wherein, at the transport starting location, the vehicle to be transported having a plurality of wheel axles is jointly picked up by the transport means included in the subset of transport means, wherein on sides of the wheel axles that face away from each other, at least one of the transport means is arranged adjacent to at least one wheel of a respective wheel axle, and subsequently, the transport means communicate with each other to move toward one another or away from one another autonomously for raising the vehicle.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the subset of transport means actuate at least one component of the vehicle by a communication connection to the vehicle.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein, as a vehicle component, a signal system of the vehicle or a drive device of the vehicle is used to communicate with the subset of transport means.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the subset of transport means actuate the vehicle component in such a way that, during the loading, the wheel can rotate freely or rotates for driving onto the transport means, and/or in such a way that, after the loading, the wheel is locked during the transport.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein, after being picked up, the vehicle is fixed in position on the subset of transport means during the transport.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein, after it has been raised, the vehicle is transported to a transport destination location and unloaded there, and after the transport destination location has been reached by the subset of transport means, the subset of transport means is cancelled.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the transport means are selected for the subset of transport means on the basis of a quantity of energy needed for reaching the transport starting location and the transport destination location and/or a respectively remaining residual quantity of energy of the transport means.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein, in the selection of the transport means for the subset of transport means, additionally, a distance of the transport destination location from a maintenance device and/or charging device for the transport means is taken into consideration.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein, at least during the transport, the subset of transport means that jointly pick up and/or raise the vehicle autonomously keep constant a distance between them or are coupled to one another mechanically, magnetically, and/or pneumatically.

10. A transport system, comprising: a plurality of independent transport means, which are assembled into a total set of transport means that includes all the transport means in the transport system, the plurality of transport means are modular and can move independently of one another, are emission-free, and are designed in such a way that, when a transport means request containing information about and characteristic parameters of a vehicle to be transported occurs at a central control unit of said transport means, a subset of transport means are selected from the total set of transport means such that the subset of transport means, based on the information and parameters in the transport means request, includes a sufficient number of transport means that are suitable for the vehicle to be transported, and autonomously conveyed to a transport starting location from respective remote locations, wherein, at the transport starting location, the vehicle to be transported having a plurality of wheel axles is jointly picked up by the transport means included in the subset of transport means wherein on sides of the wheel axles that face away from each other, at least one of the transport means is arranged adjacent to at least one wheel of a respective wheel axle, and subsequently, the transport means communicate with each other to move toward one another or away from one another autonomously for raising the vehicle.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The invention will be explained in detail below on the basis of the exemplary embodiments illustrated in the drawing, without resulting in any limitation of the invention thereby. Shown herein are:

(2) FIG. 1 a flow chart of a method for operating a transport system,

(3) FIG. 2 transport means of the transport system prior to raising of a vehicle, and

(4) FIG. 3 the transport means of the transport system after the vehicle has been raised.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(5) FIG. 1 shows, in schematic form, a flow chart of a method for operating a transport system 1, which has a large number of transport means 2 assembled to a total set of transport means. These transport means 2 can move independently of one another and, more preferably, are emission-free. In this case, they are, for example, electric vehicles or the equivalent. The transport system 1 serves, in particular, for the transport of a vehicle 3.

(6) In a first step 4 of the method, a transport means request arrives at a central control unit, for example, from an operator or a customer or, alternatively, from an assistance device. By means of the transport means request, it is possible, for example, to transmit data relating to the load to be transported, that is, the vehicle 3. In the case of the vehicle 3, the data can comprise, for example, vehicle data, in particular, the type of vehicle, the number of wheel axles, the number of wheels, or the like.

(7) From the vehicle data and, in particular, the type of vehicle, the central control unit determines key data, such as the allowed total weight, the maximum axle load, and/or the dimensions of the vehicle 3, by use of, for example, a database. It can also be provided that the data are transmitted by an assistance device of the vehicle 3 itself. In this case, the operator merely operates the assistance device of the vehicle 3, which, in turn, transmits the transport means request to the central control unit.

(8) In a step 5, the central control unit acquires data on available transport means 2, which are assembled in the total set of transport means. For example, specific data for the individual transport means 2 are thereby checked, such as, for example, the current location, the quantity of energy needed for reaching the transport starting location and the transport destination location, and the residual quantity of energy remaining for the transport means 2. Additionally, it can be determined whether, after transport of the vehicle 3 has been carried out, the residual quantity of energy would be sufficient for reaching a maintenance device and/or charging device for the transport means 2.

(9) Transport means 2 that are already in use, that is, in particular, transport means 2 identified as not being available, can be employed in the case that, at a specific point in time, they are located in the vicinity of the transport starting location and meet the additional requirements. In this case, the specific point in time is, in particular, the time of arrival of the other transport means 2 at their respective transport starting locations.

(10) In a step 6, the central control unit establishes the number of transport means sufficient for transport, depending on the vehicle 3 that is to be transported, and pools the subset of transport means that contains a number of transport means 2 corresponding to the transport means number. Subsequently, the transport means 2 assigned to the subset of transport means are autonomously conveyed to the transport location or the conveyance is at least begun.

(11) Subsequently, in a step 7, a confirmation request is made, wherein, when the confirmation request is followed by a confirmation, the transport means 2 are actually conveyed to the transport starting location. If the confirmation is absent or if an active cancellation occurs, then the subset of transport means is once again cancelled and the transport means 2 included in it are conveyed for other uses.

(12) The actual conveyance of the transport means included in the subset of transport means 2 to the transport starting location is carried out in a step 8. This means that, in the scope of step 8, the transport means 2 actually reach the transport starting location.

(13) In a step 9, after the transport starting location has been reached, the vehicle 3 is picked up by the transport means 2 and a static assembly is formed from the individual transport means 2. This assembly and the distances existing between the transport means 2 of the assembly are adjusted, for example, by a direct communication of the transport means 2 with one another and, in particular, controlled and/or regulated.

(14) In a step 10, the transport means 2 are used for the transportation of the vehicle 2 to the transport destination location. Here, they move within the static or closed assembly, the dimensions of which are calculated individually on the basis of the separating distances of the transport means 2 within the assembly, the dimensions of the vehicle 3, and the dimensions of the transport means 2. These dimensions can be employed as input values for a navigation or route guidance of the transport means 2.

(15) More preferably, the transport means 2 are equipped with a communication device for communication with the vehicle 3 that is to be transported. For example, in this case, the transport means 2 actuate a signal system of the vehicle 2, such as, for example, a system indicating the direction of travel and/or a braking indicator system. For this purpose, a communication connection, such as, for example, a wired or wireless communication connection, can be established.

(16) In a step 11, the transport means 2 arrive together with the vehicle 3 at the transport destination location. Subsequently, the vehicle 3 is unloaded and the subset of transport means is cancelled. The unloading occurs preferably only once a transport confirmation is received by a central control unit, which, for example, is triggered or is to be triggered by the operator.

(17) Obviously, it can also be provided that the step 11 is already triggered prematurely, that is, before the transport destination location has been reached, in particular since the operator and/or the assistance device terminate/terminates the transport prematurely. In this case, the transport is already terminated before the transport destination location has been reached, and the vehicle 3 unloaded from the transport means 3.

(18) The described method for operating the transport system 1 can be utilized in an extremely flexible manner. In addition, the transport system 1 can be put together in a very modular manner and can be composed of identical or different transport means 2.

(19) FIG. 2 shows a part of the transport system 1, namely, the transport means 2 that are assembled in the subset of transport means and are present at the transport starting location for picking up the vehicle 3. The vehicle 3 has a plurality of wheel axles 12 and 13, which are each equipped with a plurality of wheels 14 or 15. The picking up of the vehicle 3 by the transport means 2 then takes place in such a way that the transport means 2 are arranged on sides of the wheel axles 12 and 13 that face away from each other, namely, adjacent to the at least one wheel 14 or 15 of the respective wheel axle 12 or 13.

(20) In other words, in the exemplary embodiment, one of the transport means 2 illustrated here is arranged in front and another of the transport means 2 is arranged in back of vehicle 3 (in relation to the forward direction of travel thereof). Subsequently, the transport means 2 are moved toward one another autonomously for raising the vehicle 3. This is indicated by the arrow 16.

(21) After the vehicle 3 has been raised by the transport means 2, the state shown in FIG. 3 is present. The vehicle 3 is now arranged on the transport means 2 and can be transported by said transport means to the transport destination location. Preferably, before or when the transport is carried out, the drive device of the vehicle 3 is actuated in such a way that emissions of the vehicle 3 are suppressed. In particular, therefore, a drive assembly of the drive device, which is designed, for example, as an internal combustion engine, is switched off.

(22) In this way, it is possible or permitted by means of the transport means 2 for the vehicle 3, which is equipped with the drive assembly, also to travel into areas in which an operation of the drive assembly is not allowed, due to legal regulations, for example.