GM has filed a patent application for a vehicle assembly system that can autonomously complete a partially assembled vehicle, potentially streamlining the vehicle assembly process even further.
The GM patent filing has been assigned application number US 2023/0145508 A1 with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), and was published on May 11th, 2023. The patent was originally filed on November 8th, 2021, and lists several Michigan-based engineers as the inventors, including Michael R. Kaphengst, Seog-Chan Oh, Alfred J. Manser, and James W. Wells.
GM patent image
The new GM patent describes a system whereby a partially assembled vehicle can autonomously complete its own assembly. The partially assembled vehicle includes a chassis, wheels that are rotationally coupled to the chassis, a drive system, a navigation system, a central platform controller, and a position determining system. The assembly system also includes a safety sensor guidance system and a controller circuit responsive to an external fleet controller.
The auto-complete system can identify a plurality of assembly stations that the partially assembled vehicle must visit in order to complete its own assembly. Although modern automotive assembly is already highly automated, the system described in the new GM patent addresses certain technical issues related to the current system, and can potentially streamline the process even further, in particular with regard to potential hiccups in the current fixed assembly line process.
The current GM assembly line
The new GM patent describes how how the current assembly line conveyor system enforces a fixed sequence of assembly steps, thus preventing the optimization of assembly station use. In addition, a malfunction in a fixed assembly line conveyor affects all of the vehicles attached to it.
To address these issues, the autonomous vehicle assembly system described in the GM patent enables a partially completed vehicle to transport itself through its own assembly process, visiting the appropriate assembly stations needed for both optimized assembly and uninterrupted completion irrespective of singular technical problems at one or more stations.
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Comments
And this is a benefit how???? Seems even more expensive to have assembly lines with off ramps for AV’s to take down to their next station, and also wouldn’t it interrupt the flow of the current vehicle at said station?
Seems like this is another example of patenting every idea because it enhances the engineers status and denies competitors the chance for an otherwise useless idea.
Its simple really.
If a vehicle can assemble itself (such as install the wheels), it therefore can also UNASSEMBLE and immobilize itself when “owners” decide they don’t want to pay the additional monthly subscription fees anymore…
Now, if gm can build a vehicle that can fix itself…
Cool idea but not sure how practical it is. Please spend your time and energy reducing costs and getting the right parts to get completed vehicles in customers’ hands sooner.
Spend less time and energy on this and focus on reducing costs and getting completed vehicles in customer’s hands sooner.
how many cadillac lyrics
ARE ON THE ROAD HAVE NOT SEEN ONE YET ON LONG ISLAND ,
I just saw one (Leriq) today in Carlsbad, CA. All I saw was the back of it. Just looked like any other non-US built car
Wait until the different AIs decide to form a Union.
Too bad GM couldn’t fix the Yukon hybrid assembly that they had already put out on the streets.
Eliminating human jobs is all I see in this article.
No need for messy costly human assemblers
It will run on unicorn tears and release only O2 and H2O as exhaust
GM is the winner of the “Not Invented Here” competition. However, that’s not where major competitive advantage is hiding.
Changing attitudes and learning how others do it better may be a better focus for those brilliant people.
Or is this just a future where they leave off expensive parts and your on the hook to buy and install them yourself and oh yeah NOT under GM warranty! LOL