Robotic platform configured to identify obstacles and follow a user device

• US 10,180,683 B1
• Filed: 10/31/2016
• Issued: 01/15/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/2015
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fellow Robotics, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Fellow Robotics, Ltd.
• Inventors: Libman, Alex, Ackerman, Liat, Shalom, Amir Ben
• Primary Examiner(s): Camby, Richard M
• Application Number:
  US15/338,623
• Time in Patent Office: 806 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0246 using a video camera in combination with image processing means
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/028 using a RF signal

Abstract

A robotic platform configured to identify obstacles and follow a user and/or a user device. In one implementation, a processing device receives one or more sensor inputs, processes the one or more sensor inputs to identify an obstacle within a navigation path, the navigation path corresponding to a robotic platform following a user device, computes an alternate route in view of the navigation path and the identification of the obstacle, and configures the robotic platform to follow the user device based on the alternate route.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving one or more sensor inputs;

processing, by a processing device, the one or more sensor inputs to identify an obstacle within a navigation path, the navigation path corresponding to a robotic platform following a user device, wherein processing the one or more sensor inputs comprises;

sampling a change in light condition;

applying the sampled change to one or more stored elements to project a current appearance of an object; and

matching, in view of the projection, at least one of the one or more sensor inputs to at least one of the one or more stored elements;

computing an alternate route in view of the navigation path and the identification of the obstacle; and

configuring the robotic platform to follow the user device based on the alternate route.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the robotic platform comprises a component

that is attachable to an item and configured to physically maneuver the item.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving an input from the external system which includes mapping data of the location of the robotic platform;

constructing a navigation route based on the received input; and

activating a motion control module to physically guide a user to a specified location.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the inputs comprise wireless inputs from an external device.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising re-positioning the robotic platform, based on an input received from a device that transmits data to the robotic platform.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the robotic platform includes a circuit that charges based on manual physical motion charging.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

in response to an inability to locate a user, re-constructing the navigation path using stored data collected by another device and received by the robotic platform.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising automatically activating a transmitter of the robotic platform that enable the robotic platform to function in low light conditions while receiving directing signals from another device.

2. A system comprising:

a memory; and

a processing device, operatively coupled to the memory, to;

receive one or more sensor inputs;

transmit the one or more sensor inputs to an external device that synchronizes and processes the one or more sensor inputs with external data and generates new data in view of the synchronization and processing;

receive the new data from the external device;

process the one or more sensor inputs in view of the new data to identify an obstacle within a navigation path, the navigation path corresponding to a robotic platform following a user device;

compute an alternate route in view of the navigation path and the identification of the obstacle; and

configure the robotic platform to follow the user device based on the alternate route.

11. The system of claim 2, wherein the data that was sent from the robotic platform to the external system is provided to other devices to provide them new functionalities to such devices.

12. The system of claim 2, wherein the robotic platform receives inputs from an external system, wherein the received inputs change existing functionalities of the robotic platform.

13. The system of claim 2, wherein the processing device is further configured to:

receive an input from the external device which includes mapping data of the location of the robotic platform,

construct a navigation route based on the received input, and

activate a motion control module to physically guide a user to a specified location.

14. The system of claim 2, processing device is further configured to:

generate new data based on a user'"'"'s preferences,

process received sensor inputs in view of the new generated data, and

share the received inputs and the new data with another device to create new functionalities.

3. A non-transitory computer readable medium having instructions encoded thereon that, when executed by a processing device, cause the processing device to:

receive one or more sensor inputs;

transfer the one or more sensor inputs to an external device that processes the one or more sensor inputs to;

identify an obstacle within a navigation path, the navigation path corresponding to a robotic platform following a user device;

compute an alternate route in view of the navigation path and the identification of the obstacle;

provide the alternate route to the robotic platform;

configure the robotic platform to follow the user device based on the alternate route;

generate new data based on a user'"'"'s preferences;

process the sensor inputs in view of the new generated data; and

share the inputs and the new data with another device to create new functionalities.

15. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 3, wherein data is received from an external system, wherein the data changes existing functionality of the robotic platform.

16. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 3, wherein the processing device is further to:

maps surroundings of the robotic platform,

constructs potential routes based on the mapped surroundings, and

shares the potential routes with other devices.

17. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 3, wherein the robotic platform comprises a component that is attachable to an item and configured to physically maneuver the item.

18. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 3, wherein the robotic platform receives inputs that add functionalities to the robotic platform.

19. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 3, further comprising automatically activating a transmitter of the robotic platform that enable the robotic platform to function in low light conditions while receiving directing signals from another device.