SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR SAFE ROBOT OPERATION
First Claim
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1. A robot comprising:
- a body and, attached thereto, at least one appendage movable with respect thereto;
a sensor system for detecting persons within a detection zone around the robot; and
a computational facility for (i) defining a danger zone at least partially within the detection zone, (ii) operating the robot at a speed at or below a first threshold at which collisions between the at least one appendage and a person'"'"'s arms do not harm the person, and (iii) in response to detection of at least one of a person'"'"'s torso or head within the danger zone, operating the robot at a speed at or below a second threshold at which collisions between the at least one appendage and the person'"'"'s torso or head do not harm the person, the second threshold being lower than the first threshold.
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Abstract
In various embodiments, safe collaboration between a robot and humans is achieved by operating the robot continuously at or below a first threshold speed at which any collisions with a person'"'"'s arms do not cause harm, and, upon detection of the person'"'"'s torso or head within a danger zone around the robot, reducing the speed to or below a second threshold at which any collisions with the person'"'"'s torso or head do not cause harm.
164 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A robot comprising:
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a body and, attached thereto, at least one appendage movable with respect thereto; a sensor system for detecting persons within a detection zone around the robot; and a computational facility for (i) defining a danger zone at least partially within the detection zone, (ii) operating the robot at a speed at or below a first threshold at which collisions between the at least one appendage and a person'"'"'s arms do not harm the person, and (iii) in response to detection of at least one of a person'"'"'s torso or head within the danger zone, operating the robot at a speed at or below a second threshold at which collisions between the at least one appendage and the person'"'"'s torso or head do not harm the person, the second threshold being lower than the first threshold. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method for safely operating a robot having at least one movable appendage, the method comprising:
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operating the robot at a speed at or below a first threshold at which collisions between the at least one appendage and a person'"'"'s arms do not harm the person; using a sensor system, monitoring detection zone around the robot to detect persons therein; in response to detection of at least one of a person'"'"'s torso or a person'"'"'s head within a danger zone that is at least partially within the detection zone, operating the robot at a speed at or below a second threshold at which collisions between the at least one appendage and the person'"'"'s torso or head do not harm the person, the second threshold being lower than the first threshold. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification