ROBOT CONTROL SYSTEM AND METHOD

• US 20120165978A1
• Filed: 08/25/2011
• Published: 06/28/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: LI, SHEN-CHUN, HSU, SHOU-KUO
• Granted Patent: US 8,798,791 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/248
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0297 by controlling means in a control room

Abstract

A cloud server and method controls one or more robots. The cloud server receives location information of each robot. A robot closest to a task location where a task is taken according to the location information. The cloud server of the data center sends a command to the located robot to move to the task location, where the command defines a task of the located robot to perform.

Claims

1. A cloud server of a data center, the cloud server in electronic communication with one or more robots, comprising:

a storage system;

at least one processor; and

one or more programs stored in the storage system and being executable by the at least one processor, the one or more programs comprising;

a receiving module operable to receive location information of each of the one or more robots from a GPS device of each of one or more robots, and to receive location information of a task location from a client in electronic communication with the cloud server, in response to a determination that the client is permitted to access the cloud server;

a search module operable to locate a robot that is closest to the task location according to the location information; and

a sending module operable to send a command to the located robot to move to the task location, wherein the command defines a task of the located robot to perform.

2. The cloud server of the data center of claim 1, wherein the located robot has a shortest route to the task location compared to the other one or more robots.

4. The cloud server of the data center of claim 1, wherein the location information comprises a longitude and a latitude.

5. The cloud server of the data center of claim 1, wherein the robots are mobile robots.

3. The cloud server of the data center of claim 3, wherein the shortest route to the task location is determined by computing a route from each robot to the task location on an electronic map stored in the cloud server.

6. A robot control method implemented by a cloud server of a data center, the cloud server in electronic communication with one or more robots, the method comprising:

receiving location information of each of the one or more robots from a GPS device of each of one or more robots, and receiving location information of a task location from a client in electronic communication with the cloud server, in response to a determination that the client is permitted to access the cloud server;

locating a robot which is closest to a task location according to the location information; and

sending a command to the located robot to move to the task location, wherein the command defines a task of the located robot to perform.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the located robot has a shortest route to the task location compared to the other one or more robots.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the shortest route to the task location is determined by computing a route from each robot to the task location on an electronic map stored in the cloud server.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the location information comprises a longitude and a latitude.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein the robots are mobile robots.

11. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon instructions that, when executed by a cloud server, the cloud server in electronic communication with one or more robots, causing the cloud server to perform a robot control method, the method comprising:

receiving location information of each of the one or more robots from a GPS device of each of one or more robots, and receiving location information of a task location from a client in electronic communication with the cloud server, in response to a determination that the client is permitted to access the cloud server;

locating a robot which is closest to a task location according to the location information; and

sending a command to the located robot to move to the task location, wherein the command defines a task of the located robot to perform.

12. The medium of claim 11, wherein the located robot has a shortest route to the task location compared to the other one or more robots.

13. The medium of claim 11, wherein the shortest route to the task location is determined by computing a route from each robot to the task location on an electronic map stored in the cloud server.

14. The medium of claim 11, wherein the location information comprise a longitude and a latitude.

15. The medium of claim 11, wherein the robots are mobile robots.