Robotic sensor calibration system

• US 20040128097A1
• Filed: 12/31/2002
• Published: 07/01/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: LaMarca, Anthony G., Borriello, Gaetano
• Granted Patent: US 6,795,786 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/104
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 18/006 Intermittent recalibration
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 18/008 with calibration coefficients stored in memory
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 9/005 Solid-state data loggers

Abstract

In one embodiment a sensor calibration system includes a robotic platform able to navigate to sensors distributed throughout an environment. The sensors may measure, for example, acoustic levels, temperature, luminance, or humidity. The robotic platform is equipped with at least one set of calibrated sensors and is capable of maneuvering around the environment to respective positions adjacent to the sensors to perform on site calibration. Such proximity also permits recharging power supplies of sensors and download/upload of information to and from the sensor.

Claims

1. A sensor calibration method comprising:

identifying location of sensors positioned in an environment;

navigating a robotic platform having at least one set of calibrated sensors mounted on the robotic platform, the robotic platform capable of maneuvering around the environment to respective positions adjacent to the sensors; and

calibrating the sensors with respect to calibrated sensors mounted on the robotic platform.

2. The sensor calibration method of claim 1, further comprising storing information in a sensor calibration database to track temporal changes in calibration error.

3. The sensor calibration method of claim 1, further comprising repositioning of sensors.

4. The sensor calibration method of claim 1, further comprising replacement of sensors.

5. The sensor calibration method of claim 1, further comprising placing uncalibrated sensors.

6. The sensor calibration method of claim 1, further comprising modeling of sensor characteristics to detect failure modes requiring attention by the robotic platform.

7. The sensor calibration method of claim 1, further comprising recharging of power sources of the sensors by the robotic platform.

8. The sensor calibration method of claim 1, further comprising replacement of power sources of the sensors by the robotic platform.

9. The sensor calibration method of claim 1, wherein the sensors measure temperature variations.

10. The sensor calibration method of claim 1, wherein the sensors are at least intermittently maintainable in wireless communication with a sensor monitoring system.

11. An article comprising a storage medium having stored thereon instructions that when executed by a machine result in:

identifying location of sensors positioned in an environment;

navigating a robotic platform having at least one set of calibrated sensors mounted on the robotic platform, the robotic platform capable of maneuvering around the environment to respective positions adjacent to the sensors; and

calibrating the sensors with respect to calibrated sensors mounted on the robotic platform.

12. The article comprising a storage medium having stored thereon instructions according to claim 11, further comprising storing information in a sensor calibration database to track temporal changes in calibration error.

13. The article comprising a storage medium having stored thereon instructions according to claim 11, further comprising repositioning of sensors.

14. The article comprising a storage medium having stored thereon instructions according to claim 11, further comprising replacement of sensors.

15. The article comprising a storage medium having stored thereon instructions according to claim 11, further comprising placing uncalibrated sensors.

16. The article comprising a storage medium having stored thereon instructions according to claim 11, further comprising modeling of sensor characteristics to detect failure modes requiring attention by the robotic platform.

17. The article comprising a storage medium having stored thereon instructions according to claim 11, further comprising recharging of power sources of the sensors by the robotic platform.

18. The article comprising a storage medium having stored thereon instructions according to claim 11, further comprising replacement of power sources of the sensors by the robotic platform.

19. The article comprising a storage medium having stored thereon instructions according to claim 11, wherein the sensors measure temperature variations.

20. The article comprising a storage medium having stored thereon instructions according to claim 11, wherein the sensors are at least intermittently maintainable in wireless communication with a sensor monitoring system.

21. A sensor calibration system comprising:

a robotic platform able to navigate to sensors positioned in an environment and having at least one set of calibrated sensors mounted thereon, the robotic platform capable of maneuvering around the environment to respective positions adjacent to the sensors; and

a sensor monitoring system to determine calibration timing of the sensors by the robotic platform.

22. The sensor calibration system of claim 21, further comprising storing information in a sensor calibration database to track temporal changes in calibration error.

23. The sensor calibration system of claim 21, further comprising repositioning of sensors.

24. The sensor calibration system of claim 21, further comprising replacement of sensors.

25. The sensor calibration system of claim 21, further comprising placing uncalibrated sensors.

26. The sensor calibration system of claim 21, further comprising modeling of sensor characteristics to detect failure modes requiring attention by the robotic platform.

27. The sensor calibration system of claim 21, further comprising recharging of power sources of the sensors by the robotic platform.

28. The sensor calibration system of claim 21, further comprising replacement of power sources of the sensors by the robotic platform.

29. The sensor calibration system of claim 21, wherein the sensors measure temperature variations.

30. The sensor calibration system of claim 21, wherein the sensors are at least intermittently maintainable in wireless communication with a sensor monitoring system.