Autonomous robot localization
First Claim
1. A method of estimating a location of a lawn mowing robot in an environment having a plurality of synthetic surfaces at known locations with respect to a mowable space in the environment, the method comprising:
- placing a lawn mowing robot in the environment, the lawn mowing robot comprising;
a radiation source coupled to the lawn mowing robot;
a detector coupled to the lawn mowing robot and configured to detect radiation reflected by objects in the environment;
a modulator coupled to the radiation source and configured to modulate radiation emitted from the radiation source; and
a controller configured to controllably direct radiation from the radiation source to scan the environment, and to vary at least one of an output power of the directed radiation or a scan rate of the directed radiation as a function of detected radiation reflected from one or more of the synthetic surfaces, wherein the controller is configured to direct the modulator to vary a radiation beam focus in response to detection of reflected radiation; and
using the controller to controllably direct the radiation from the radiation source to scan the environment and determine the location of the lawn mowing robot based on the detected reflected radiation.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A location estimation system for use with an autonomous lawn mowing robot, comprises a plurality of synthetic surfaces positioned with respect to a mowable space in an environment, a radiation source coupled to the lawn mowing robot, a detector coupled to the lawn mowing robot and configured to detect radiation reflected by objects in the environment, and a controller configured to controllably direct radiation from the radiation source to scan the environment, and to vary at least one of an output power of the directed radiation and a scan rate of the directed radiation, as a function of detected radiation reflected from one or more of the synthetic surfaces.
329 Citations
30 Claims
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1. A method of estimating a location of a lawn mowing robot in an environment having a plurality of synthetic surfaces at known locations with respect to a mowable space in the environment, the method comprising:
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placing a lawn mowing robot in the environment, the lawn mowing robot comprising; a radiation source coupled to the lawn mowing robot; a detector coupled to the lawn mowing robot and configured to detect radiation reflected by objects in the environment; a modulator coupled to the radiation source and configured to modulate radiation emitted from the radiation source; and a controller configured to controllably direct radiation from the radiation source to scan the environment, and to vary at least one of an output power of the directed radiation or a scan rate of the directed radiation as a function of detected radiation reflected from one or more of the synthetic surfaces, wherein the controller is configured to direct the modulator to vary a radiation beam focus in response to detection of reflected radiation; and using the controller to controllably direct the radiation from the radiation source to scan the environment and determine the location of the lawn mowing robot based on the detected reflected radiation. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of estimating a location of a lawn mowing robot in an environment that includes a plurality of synthetic surfaces at known locations with respect to a mowable space in the environment, the method comprising:
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scanning a radiation source coupled to a lawn mowing robot present in the environment; receiving radiation, by one or more detectors of the lawn mowing robot, reflected by objects in the environment; varying an output power of the directed radiation as a function of the radiation reflected from one or more of the synthetic surfaces; varying a scan rate of the directed radiation, as a function of detected radiation reflected from one or more of the synthetic surfaces; estimating a location of the lawn mowing robot; and varying a beam focus of the radiation source as a function of detected radiation reflected from one or more of the synthetic surfaces. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A lawn mowing robot for operating in an environment having a plurality of synthetic surfaces at known locations with respect to a mowable space in the environment, the lawn mowing robot comprising:
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a radiation source coupled to the lawn mowing robot; a detector coupled to the lawn mowing robot and configured to detect radiation reflected by objects in the environment; a modulator coupled to the radiation source and configured to modulate radiation emitted from the radiation source; and a controller configured to controllably direct radiation from the radiation source to scan the environment, vary at least one of an output power of the directed radiation or a scan rate of the directed radiation as a function of detected radiation reflected from one or more of the synthetic surfaces, direct the modulator to vary a radiation beam focus in response to detection of reflected radiation, and determine the location of the lawn mowing robot based on the detected reflected radiation. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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Specification