Robot lawn mower bumper system
First Claim
1. A mobile robot comprising:
- a chassis;
a shell moveably mounted on the chassis by a shell suspension system;
a sensor assembly comprising;
a magnet disposed on the shell, andthree or more Hall effect sensors disposed on the chassis in a triangular pattern at fixed distances such that the three or more Hall effect sensors are covered by the magnet absent contact between the shell and an obstacle and such that at least one of the three or more Hall effect sensors is uncovered in response to the contact between the shell and the obstacle, wherein relative motion between the magnet and the three or more Hall effect sensors causes the three or more Hall effect sensors to produce differing output signals; and
a controller, configured to receive the output signals from the three or more Hall effect sensors and to determine a distance and a direction of movement of the shell relative to the chassis.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
In one aspect, a mobile robot includes a chassis, a shell moveably mounted on the chassis by a shell suspension system, and a sensor assembly configured to sense a distance and a direction of shell movement relative to the chassis. The sensor assembly includes a magnet disposed on an underside of the shell. The sensor assembly further includes three or more Hall effect sensors disposed on the chassis in a triangular pattern at fixed distances such that the three or more Hall effect sensors are positioned beneath the magnet when no force is applied to the shell, wherein relative motion between the magnet and the Hall effect sensors causes the sensors to produce differing output signals. The mobile robot also includes a controller configured to receive output signals from the Hall effect sensors and to determine a distance and a direction of movement of the shell relative to the chassis.
106 Citations
26 Claims
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1. A mobile robot comprising:
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a chassis; a shell moveably mounted on the chassis by a shell suspension system; a sensor assembly comprising; a magnet disposed on the shell, and three or more Hall effect sensors disposed on the chassis in a triangular pattern at fixed distances such that the three or more Hall effect sensors are covered by the magnet absent contact between the shell and an obstacle and such that at least one of the three or more Hall effect sensors is uncovered in response to the contact between the shell and the obstacle, wherein relative motion between the magnet and the three or more Hall effect sensors causes the three or more Hall effect sensors to produce differing output signals; and a controller, configured to receive the output signals from the three or more Hall effect sensors and to determine a distance and a direction of movement of the shell relative to the chassis. - 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 of detecting contact between a mobile robot and an obstacle, the method comprising:
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sensing, with a sensor assembly comprising a magnet disposed on a shell of the mobile robot and three or more Hall effect sensors disposed on a chassis of the mobile robot, contact between an obstacle and the shell, wherein the three or more Hall effect sensors are covered by the magnet absent the contact between the obstacle and the shell, and at least one of the three or more Hall effect sensors is uncovered by the magnet in response to the contact between the obstacle and the shell; determining, by a controller based on sensing the contact between the obstacle and the shell, a distance and a direction of movement of the shell relative to the chassis; and modifying at least one behavior of the mobile robot based on the distance and direction of movement of the shell relative to the chassis. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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Specification