Self-driving systems

• US 10,649,465 B1
• Filed: 06/17/2019
• Issued: 05/12/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 06/11/2019
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lingdong Technology (Beijing) Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Lingdong Technology (Beijing) Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Tang, Wenqing, Tang, Yaming
• Primary Examiner(s): Lin, Abby Y
• Assistant Examiner(s): Weeks, Martin A
• Application Number:
  US16/443,081
• Time in Patent Office: 330 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 13/262 for wheeled luggage
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 13/28 Combinations of handles with other devices
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 2013/267 the handle being slidable, extractable and lockable in one or more positions
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 2200/00 Details not otherwise provided for in A45C
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 5/03 Suitcases
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 5/14 with built-in rolling means
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0246 using a video camera in combination with image processing means
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0248 in combination with a laser lasers per se H01S
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0255 using acoustic signals, e.g. ultra-sonic singals sonar systems designed for anti-collision purposes G01S15/93
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/028 using a RF signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/90 Arrangement of cameras or camera modules, e.g. multiple cameras in TV studios or sports stadiums

Abstract

Aspects of the present disclosure relate to self-driving luggage systems, devices, and components thereof, having multiple following modes. In one implementation, a self-driving system includes a piece of luggage. The piece of luggage includes one or more motorized wheels and an onboard ultra-wideband device. The onboard ultra-wideband device includes a control unit and one or more transceivers. The piece of luggage also includes one or more laser emitters configured to shoot light towards a target. The piece of luggage also includes one or more proximity cameras configured to take one or more images of the target, and the one or more images include light reflected off of the target. Each of the one or more proximity cameras includes an optical filter. The self-driving system also includes a central processing unit. The central processing unit is configured to switch between a vision following mode and a radio following mode.

Claims

1. A self-driving system, comprising:

a piece of luggage, the piece of luggage comprising;

one or more motorized wheels,

an onboard ultra-wideband device having a control unit and one or more transceivers,

one or more laser emitters configured to shoot light towards a target, and

one or more proximity cameras configured to take one or more images of the target, the one or more images including light reflected off of the target, and each of the one or more proximity cameras having an optical filter;

a central processing unit configured to;

switch between a vision following mode and a radio wave following mode,

determine a distance to the target, and

generate instructions regarding a position of the piece of luggage;

wherein in the vision following mode the central processing unit is configured to receive from the one or more proximity cameras one or more images of the target that include the light reflected off of the target; and

wherein in the radio wave following mode the central processing unit is configured to receive information from the onboard ultra-wideband device.

2. The self-driving system of claim 1, wherein the control unit of the onboard ultra-wideband device and the central processing unit are integrated into a single processing unit.

3. The self-driving system of claim 1, further comprising a wheel control module, wherein in the vision following mode the central processing unit determines the distance to the target using a height at which the light is reflected off of the target, and the wheel control module receives the instructions generated by the central processing unit regarding the position of the piece of luggage, and in response to the received instructions the wheel control module moves the piece of luggage in a given direction.

4. The self-driving system of claim 1, wherein the central processing unit is configured to automatically switch from the vision following mode to the radio wave following mode upon detecting an obstructed image.

5. The self-driving system of claim 4, wherein the obstructed image is obstructed by an environmental condition.

6. The self-driving system of claim 1, wherein the central processing unit is configured to automatically switch from the radio wave following mode to the vision following mode upon detecting an unobstructed image.

7. The self-driving system of claim 1, wherein the central processing unit is configured to automatically switch from the vision following mode to the radio wave following mode upon moving from an indoor environment to an outdoor environment.

8. The self-driving system of claim 1, wherein the central processing unit is configured to automatically switch from the radio wave following mode to the vision following mode upon moving from an outdoor environment to an indoor environment.

9. The self-driving system of claim 1, further comprising:

a mobile ultra-wideband device with a transmitter configured to transmit a signal to the one or more transceivers of the onboard ultra-wideband device;

a wheel control module; and

wherein in the radio wave following mode the central processing unit determines the distance to the target using the signal transmitted from the transmitter to the one or more transceivers, and the wheel control module receives the instructions generated by the central processing unit regarding the position of the piece of luggage, and in response to the received instructions the wheel control module moves the piece of luggage in a given direction.

10. The self-driving system of claim 9, wherein the mobile ultra-wideband device comprises a belt clip.

11. The self-driving system of claim 1, wherein each of the one or more proximity cameras includes a wide-angle lens.

12. A self-driving system, comprising:

a piece of luggage, the piece of luggage comprising;

one or more motorized wheels,

an onboard ultra-wideband device having a control unit and one or more transceivers,

one or more laser emitters configured to shoot light towards a target, and

one or more proximity cameras configured to take one or more images of the target, the one or more images including light reflected off of the target, and each of the one or more proximity cameras having an optical filter;

a mobile ultra-wideband device, the mobile ultra-wideband device comprising;

a housing,

a transmitter configured to transmit a signal to the one or more transceivers of the onboard ultra-wideband device,

a battery, and

a mounting clip; and

a central processing unit configured to;

switch between a vision following mode and a radio wave following mode,

determine a distance to the target, and

generate instructions regarding a position of the piece of luggage;

wherein in the vision following mode the central processing unit is configured to receive from the one or more proximity cameras one or more images of the target that include the light reflected off of the target; and

wherein in the radio wave following mode the central processing unit is configured to receive information from the onboard ultra-wideband device.

13. The self-driving system of claim 12, wherein the mobile ultra-wideband device further comprises a charging outlet to recharge the battery.

14. The self-driving system of claim 12, wherein the mobile ultra-wideband device further comprises a status light, and the status light is configured to indicate a power status of the mobile ultra-wideband device.

15. The self-driving system of claim 12, wherein the mounting clip of the mobile ultra-wideband device is a belt clip.

16. The self-driving system of claim 15, wherein the housing comprises one or more protrusions that protrude from the housing, and the mounting clip comprises a clip that is pivotably mounted to the one or more protrusions.

17. The self-driving system of claim 16, wherein the central processing unit is configured to automatically switch from the vision following mode to the radio wave following mode upon detecting an obstructed image.

18. A self-driving system, comprising:

a piece of luggage, the piece of luggage comprising;

one or more motorized wheels,

an onboard ultra-wideband device having a control unit and one or more transceivers,

one or more laser emitters configured to shoot light towards a target, and

one or more proximity cameras configured to take one or more images of the target, the one or more images including light reflected off of the target, and each of the one or more proximity cameras having an optical filter;

a status indicator;

a central processing unit configured to;

switch between a vision following mode and a radio wave following mode,

determine a distance to the target, and

generate instructions regarding a status of the piece of luggage;

wherein in the vision following mode the central processing unit is configured to receive from the one or more proximity cameras one or more images of the target that include the light reflected off of the target, and the instructions generated by the central processing unit instruct the status indicator to emit a first light indicator; and

wherein in the radio wave following mode the central processing unit is configured to receive information from the onboard ultra-wideband device, and the instructions generated by the central processing unit instruct the status indicator to emit a second light indicator that is different than the first light indicator.

19. The self-driving system of claim 18, wherein the status indicator comprises a light-emitting diode, the first light indicator comprises an uninterrupted light emission, and the second light indicator comprises a blinking light emission.

20. The self-driving system of claim 18, wherein the status indicator comprises a light-emitting diode, the first light indicator comprises a first color, and the second light indicator comprises a second color that is different than the first color.

21. The self-driving system of claim 18, wherein:

the self-driving system further comprises one or more infrared sensors;

the piece of luggage comprises a handle;

the central processing unit is further configured to receive information from the one or more infrared sensors, and is configured to switch between the vision following mode, the radio wave following mode, and a manual pull mode; and

the one or more infrared sensors and the status indicator are disposed on the handle of the piece of luggage.

22. The self-driving system of claim 21, wherein the status indicator comprises a light-emitting diode, and in the manual pull mode the instructions generated by the central processing unit instruct the status indicator to emit a third light indicator that is different than the second light indicator and the third light indicator.