Robot Confinement
First Claim
1. A method of confining a robot comprising:
- providing a portable barrier signal transmitting device that includes at least a primary emitter;
emitting from the primary emitter a confinement beam primarily along an axis defining a directed barrier;
providing a mobile robot comprising a detector, a drive motor and a control unit controlling the drive motor;
detecting by the detector the directed barrier formed by the emitted confinement beam;
controlling the drive motor, based on the detecting, to cause the robot to avoid the directed barrier.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method of confining a robot in a work space includes providing a portable barrier signal transmitting device including a primary emitter emitting a confinement beam primarily along an axis defining a directed barrier. A mobile robot including a detector, a drive motor and a control unit controlling the drive motor is caused to avoid the directed barrier upon detection by the detector on the robot. The detector on the robot has an omnidirectional field of view parallel to the plane of movement of the robot. The detector receives confinement light beams substantially in a plane at the height of the field of view while blocking or rejecting confinement light beams substantially above or substantially below the plane at the height of the field of view.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method of confining a robot comprising:
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providing a portable barrier signal transmitting device that includes at least a primary emitter;
emitting from the primary emitter a confinement beam primarily along an axis defining a directed barrier;
providing a mobile robot comprising a detector, a drive motor and a control unit controlling the drive motor;
detecting by the detector the directed barrier formed by the emitted confinement beam;
controlling the drive motor, based on the detecting, to cause the robot to avoid the directed barrier. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of confining a robot comprising:
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detecting by a light beam receiver system when a robot encounters a confinement light beam directed along a substantially horizontal axis, the light beam receiver system oriented in a manner to have an omnidirectional field of view in a plane parallel to the plane of movement of the robot;
receiving confinement light beams substantially in a plane at the height of the field of view;
blocking or rejecting confinement light beams substantially above or substantially below the plane at the height of the field of view; and
controlling a drive motor of the robot based upon detection of the confinement light beam to move the robot until the confinement light beam is no longer detected. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification