Automated detection of surface layout
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A system comprising:
- a surface having a layout, and comprising a plurality of machine-readable codes, each machine-readable code identifying at least one characteristic of a portion of the surface;
a plurality of mobile agents configured to explore the surface contemporaneously with one another, each mobile agent comprising;
a propulsion mechanism, configured to impart motive force to cause the mobile agent to travel along the surface;
a sensor, configured to detect the machine-readable codes as the mobile agent travels along the surface;
a mobile wireless transceiver, configured to transmit at least one signal representing the detected machine-readable codes; and
a microcontroller, operatively coupled to control the operation of the propulsion mechanism, the sensor, and the mobile wireless transceiver; and
a host device, comprising;
a wireless transceiver, configured to receive signals representing detected machine-readable codes from the mobile agents;
a processor, operatively coupled to the wireless transceiver, configured to determine the layout of the surface by merging information from the signals received from at least two of the mobile agents; and
a storage device, operatively coupled to the wireless transceiver, configured to store a virtual representation of the surface based on the determined layout;
wherein the host device is configured to implement an entertainment activity for the plurality of mobile agents based on the virtual representation.
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Abstract
A drivable surface includes a plurality of segments that can be arranged according to any desired configuration. One or more mobile agents are configured to automatically explore the drivable surface so as to ascertain the positions, orientations, and/or configurations of the various segments, as well as how they are connected to one another. The information collected during such exploration can be transmitted to a host device or other location, where a virtual representation of the drivable surface can be constructed based on the collected information.
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Citations
45 Claims
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1. A system comprising:
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a surface having a layout, and comprising a plurality of machine-readable codes, each machine-readable code identifying at least one characteristic of a portion of the surface; a plurality of mobile agents configured to explore the surface contemporaneously with one another, each mobile agent comprising; a propulsion mechanism, configured to impart motive force to cause the mobile agent to travel along the surface; a sensor, configured to detect the machine-readable codes as the mobile agent travels along the surface; a mobile wireless transceiver, configured to transmit at least one signal representing the detected machine-readable codes; and a microcontroller, operatively coupled to control the operation of the propulsion mechanism, the sensor, and the mobile wireless transceiver; and a host device, comprising; a wireless transceiver, configured to receive signals representing detected machine-readable codes from the mobile agents; a processor, operatively coupled to the wireless transceiver, configured to determine the layout of the surface by merging information from the signals received from at least two of the mobile agents; and a storage device, operatively coupled to the wireless transceiver, configured to store a virtual representation of the surface based on the determined layout; wherein the host device is configured to implement an entertainment activity for the plurality of mobile agents based on the virtual representation. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method for determining a layout of a surface comprising a plurality of machine-readable codes, each machine-readable code identifying at least one characteristic of a portion of the surface, the method comprising:
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detecting, via sensors of a plurality of mobile agents configured to explore the surface contemporaneously with one another, machine readable codes as the mobile agents travel along the surface, each machine-readable code identifying at least one characteristic of a portion of the surface; at a wireless transceiver of a host device, receiving signals representing detected machine-readable codes from the mobile agents; at a processor of the host device, determining the layout of the surface by merging information from the signals received from at least two of the mobile agents; at a storage device, storing a virtual representation of the surface based on the determined layout; and at the processor of the host device implementing an entertainment activity for the plurality of mobile agents based on the virtual representation. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. A non-transitory computer program product for determining a layout of a surface comprising a plurality of machine-readable codes, each machine-readable code identifying at least one characteristic of a portion of the surface, the non-transitory computer program product comprising instructions stored thereon, that when executed on a processor of a host device, perform the steps of:
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receiving signals from a plurality of mobile agents configured to explore the surface contemporaneously with one another and to detect, via at least one sensor, machine readable codes as the mobile agents travel along the surface, each machine-readable code identifying at least one characteristic of a portion of the surface, each received signal representing at least one detected machine-readable code; determining the layout of the surface by merging information from the signals received from at least two of the mobile agents; causing a storage device to store a virtual representation of the surface based on the determined layout; and implementing an entertainment activity for the plurality of mobile agents based on the virtual representation. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45)
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Specification