Autonomous machine
First Claim
1. An autonomous machine comprising:
- driving means for moving the machine along a surface of an area, and a navigation system, including a memory means, for navigating the machine around the area, the navigation system comprising;
boundary following means for causing the machine to follow a boundary of the area, storing path information on the path travelled by the machine as the machine follows the boundary;
comparison means for determining when the machine has returned to a previously visited position in the area, the comparison means being arranged to compare the latest section of the path travelled by the machine with information representing a section of the path previously stored in the memory, and for deciding when the new path information and previously stored path information are substantially the same.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An autonomous machine comprises driving means for moving the machine along a surface of an area, and a navigation system. The navigation system causes the machine to follow a boundary of the area, storing path information on the path travelled by the machine as the machine follows the boundary and compares when the machine has returned to a previously visited position in the area. The navigation system compares the latest section of the path travelled by the machine with information representing a section of the path previously stored in the memory and decides when the new path information and previously stored path information are substantially the same.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. An autonomous machine comprising:
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driving means for moving the machine along a surface of an area, and a navigation system, including a memory means, for navigating the machine around the area, the navigation system comprising;
boundary following means for causing the machine to follow a boundary of the area, storing path information on the path travelled by the machine as the machine follows the boundary;
comparison means for determining when the machine has returned to a previously visited position in the area, the comparison means being arranged to compare the latest section of the path travelled by the machine with information representing a section of the path previously stored in the memory, and for deciding when the new path information and previously stored path information are substantially the same. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. An autonomous machine according to 20 wherein the comparison means comprises:
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means for maintaining an indication of the reliability of the new path information as the machine travels around the area, the reliability decreasing with the distance travelled by the machine since the last reset;
and wherein the comparison means is arranged to use the indication in comparing new path information with stored path information.
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22. A method of controlling an autonomous machine comprising:
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causing the machine to follow a boundary of the area, storing path information on the path travelled by the machine as the machine follows the boundary;
determining when the machine has returned to a previously visited position in the area by comparing the latest section of the path travelled by the machine with information representing a section of the path previously stored in the memory, and deciding when the new path information and previously stored path information are substantially the same. - View Dependent Claims (23)
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24. An autonomous machine, a method of controlling an autonomous machine or software method for controlling an autonomous machine substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Specification