US Patent 7917245 Automated material handling system

Objects to be transported which are transported between at least one storage unit and a plurality of manufacturing apparatuses by a plurality of transport vehicles in accordance with a command of a controller are managed inexpensively and easily and with high reliability. An ID card 20 incorporating a wireless communication function is installed on all carriers 18, and an ID read/write unit 25 is installed in some transport vehicles 10. Further, a carrier ID is read or written with respect to the ID card 20 in accordance with a command of an MCS 4 connected to the ID read/write unit 25, so as to manage the carrier ID by a carrier ID management unit 4a.