AUTONOMOUS ROBOT
First Claim
1. A method for scanning, by a robot, a work area to be covered by the robot, wherein the robot travels inside the work area in successive paths, each initiated when the robot changes direction, the method comprising:
- scanning the work area using a first scanning pattern;
monitoring the length of each of the paths traveled by the robot;
switching from the first scanning mode to a second scanning pattern when an obstacle is encountered on a minimum number of consecutive said paths each having a length between a first threshold distance and a longer, second threshold distance; and
switching back to the first scanning pattern when the length of one of the paths has increased to more than the second threshold distance.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method for communication between a charging station and a robot, via a pair of power lines coupled between a power supply in the charging station and a battery in the robot. In operation, the power supply is sequentially switched between a first voltage level and a second voltage level in accordance with a predetermined signal pattern. The voltage level on the power lines in the robot is monitored and correlated with a specific command to be executed by the robot.
58 Citations
10 Claims
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1. A method for scanning, by a robot, a work area to be covered by the robot, wherein the robot travels inside the work area in successive paths, each initiated when the robot changes direction, the method comprising:
- scanning the work area using a first scanning pattern;
monitoring the length of each of the paths traveled by the robot;
switching from the first scanning mode to a second scanning pattern when an obstacle is encountered on a minimum number of consecutive said paths each having a length between a first threshold distance and a longer, second threshold distance; and
switching back to the first scanning pattern when the length of one of the paths has increased to more than the second threshold distance. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
- scanning the work area using a first scanning pattern;
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6. A method for maneuvering a robot to extricate a robot from a problem area comprising:
- saving the heading of the robot as heading H1, when the robot encounters a first obstacle;
performing an in-place turn in a first direction;
saving the heading of the robot as heading H2, when the robot encounters a second obstacle;
performing a turn in the reverse direction of the first turn substantially toward the bisector of the sector bounded by headings H1 and H2; and
continuing operation with a forward leg to move between the first obstacle and the second obstacle, in a heading whose angular direction is substantially equal to the bisected angle H1-H2. - View Dependent Claims (7)
- saving the heading of the robot as heading H1, when the robot encounters a first obstacle;
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8. A method for maneuvering a robot to extricate a robot from within a problem area bounded partially by an obstacle comprising:
- (a) traversing a straight leg until an obstacle is encountered;
(b) performing a turn in a first direction;
(c) continuing a straight leg traverse;
(d) determining whether the robot is still inside the problem area; and
(e) repeating steps (a) and (b) until the robot is no longer inside the problem area. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10)
- (a) traversing a straight leg until an obstacle is encountered;
Specification