Mobile robot system and remote control method for the same

• US 10,048,682 B2
• Filed: 04/18/2016
• Issued: 08/14/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 04/16/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. (Samsung Group)
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. (Samsung Group)
• Inventors: Chang, Hwan, Kim, Hong Jun, Yoon, Hee Suk, Lee, Ki Yong, Kang, Chin Woo, Kim, Kyong Su
• Primary Examiner(s): Berona, Kimberly S
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sood, Anshul
• Application Number:
  US15/132,141
• Publication Number:
  US 20160306352A1
• Time in Patent Office: 848 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2201/00 Robotic cleaning machines, i.e. with automatic control of the travelling movement or the cleaning operation
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2201/04 Automatic control of the travelling movement; Automatic obstacle detection
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 11/0005 Manipulators having means for high-level communication with users, e.g. speech generator, face recognition means
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0016 characterised by the operator's input device input arrangements for computing systems in general G06F3/00
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0033 by having the operator tracking the vehicle either by direct line of sight or via one or more cameras located remotely from the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0362 with detection of 1D translations or rotations of an operating part of the device, e.g. scroll wheels, sliders, knobs, rollers or belts

Abstract

A mobile robot system for allowing a user to easily input a control command of a mobile robot, and a remote control method for the same are disclosed. The mobile robot system and the remote control method thereof can allow a user to easily input control commands regarding the movement and operation of the mobile robot using the jog-dial interface, such that the possibility of causing input errors can be reduced and desired commands can be quickly and efficiently transmitted, resulting in increased user manipulation of the mobile robot system. When the user enters the rotation command of the mobile robot, the mobile robot system can allow the user to perform intuitive interfacing through shuttle manipulation, such that the mobile robot system can facilitate transmission of a movement command having a circular trajectory and the same mobile robot control as in the user-intended control is achieved, resulting in implementation of emotional interface capable of increasing user accessibility.

Claims

1. A mobile robot system comprising:

a mobile robot configured to perform a task while moving in a traveling region; and

a device configured to remotely control the mobile robot,

wherein the device further includes;

a dial configured to input a control command regarding movement and operation of the mobile robot, and

a mode button configured to change a control mode of the mobile robot,

wherein in a first control mode the dial transmits the control command to the mobile robot to directly control a direction of movement of the mobile robot, and in a second control mode the dial transmits the control command to the mobile robot to set a time of operation,

wherein the transmitted control command indicates a change in the movement and operation of the mobile robot in proportion to a detected magnitude of a change of the dial by at least one of a shuttling rotation direction, a shuttling rotation angular speed, or shuttling rotation angle information.

2. The mobile robot system according to claim 1, wherein the shuttling rotation direction includes a first rotation direction corresponding to a counterclockwise direction and a second rotation direction corresponding to a clockwise direction.

3. The mobile robot system according to claim 2, further comprising:

a plurality of light emitting units arranged in an inner circumference of the dial,

wherein the plurality of light emitting units display user input information changed according to shuttling of the dial in the first rotation direction or the second rotation direction.

4. The mobile robot system according to claim 3, wherein the plurality of light emitting units have different colors and different brightness levels according to the shuttling rotation direction or the shutting rotation angular speed.

5. The mobile robot system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a charging station configured to which the mobile robot returns,

wherein the device further includes;

a power-supply button configured to control power of the mobile robot;

a charge return button configured to allow the mobile robot to return to the charging station; and

a start/stop button configured to initiate, cancel, or confirm the control command.

6. The mobile robot system according to claim 5, wherein at least one of the power-supply button, the charge return button, or the mode button is arranged in an outer circumference of the dial.

7. The mobile robot system according to claim 5, wherein the start/stop button is arranged in an inside of the dial.

8. The mobile robot system according to claim 1, wherein the dial adjusts a change amount of each setting value according to the shuttling rotation angular speed.

9. The mobile robot system according to claim 8, wherein the dial adjusts a change amount of a time that is increased or reduced according to the shuttling rotation angular speed, during the second control mode.

10. The mobile robot system according to claim 8, wherein the dial adjusts a change amount of a rotation angular speed of the mobile robot that is increased or reduced according to the shuttling rotation angular speed, during the first control mode.

11. The mobile robot system according to claim 1, wherein:

the device further includes left and right buttons arranged at an inside of the dial; and

in the second control mode, setting values are changed through the left and right buttons.

12. The mobile robot system according to claim 1, wherein:

the device further includes up and down buttons arranged at an inside of the dial; and

in the first control mode, a linear speed of the mobile robot is changed through the up and down buttons.

13. The mobile robot system according to claim 1, wherein the device further includes:

a display unit configured to display user input information and an operation state of the mobile robot.

14. The mobile robot system according to claim 13, wherein the display unit is arranged in a center part of the dial.

15. A remote control method for a mobile robot system configured to remotely control a mobile robot using a dial provided in a device, the remote control method comprising:

transmitting to the mobile robot, by the dial in a first control mode, a first control command to directly control a direction of movement of the mobile robot, and by the dial in a second control mode, a second control command to set a time of operation of the mobile robot,

wherein the transmitted first and second control commands indicate a change in the direction of movement and the time of operation of the mobile robot in proportion to a magnitude of a detected change of the dial by at least one of a shuttling rotation direction, a shuttling rotation angular speed, or shuttling rotation angle information.

16. The remote control method according to claim 15, further comprising:

displaying user input information adjusted according to shuttling of the dial through a plurality of light emitting units.

17. The remote control method according to claim 15, wherein the dial adjusts a change amount of each setting value changed according to the shuttling rotation angular speed.