AUTONOMOUS MOBILE WORK SYSTEM COMPRISING A VARIABLE REFLECTIVITY BASE STATION
First Claim
1. An autonomous mobile work system for performing work in a designated area, the system comprising:
- at least one variable reflectivity base station configured to change its reflectivity state in response to a command; and
a mobile work device including at least one sensor configured to locate the at least one variable reflectivity base station, wherein the mobile work device determines a distance between the mobile work device and the at least one variable reflectivity base station.
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Abstract
The disclosed technology relates to a method and system for localizing and confining an autonomous mobile work system or systems for performing work in a user defined space is disclosed. The system can include two or more variable reflective base stations at first and second locations that can modify their optical or electromagnetic reflectivity based upon either an external command via wired or wireless communications interface, or automatically on a regular or asynchronous time schedule under programmed or user settable control. The system also can include one or more autonomous mobile work systems capable of sensing the state of the variable reflectance base stations via sensors such as electromagnetic or optical sensors capable of measuring distance to the reflective base stations.
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Citations
29 Claims
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1. An autonomous mobile work system for performing work in a designated area, the system comprising:
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at least one variable reflectivity base station configured to change its reflectivity state in response to a command; and a mobile work device including at least one sensor configured to locate the at least one variable reflectivity base station, wherein the mobile work device determines a distance between the mobile work device and the at least one variable reflectivity base station. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 21, 22, 23)
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6-11. -11. (canceled)
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12. An autonomous mobile work system for performing work in a user selected area, the system comprising:
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a mobile work device including a sensor configured to locate a variable reflectivity base station and measure the distance to said base station; and at least one variable reflectivity base station. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 24, 25)
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15-16. -16. (canceled)
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17. A method of determining a location of an autonomous mobile work device, the method comprising:
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providing a first variable reflectivity base station, and a second variable reflectivity base station; providing a location of the first variable reflectivity base station and a location of the second variable reflectivity base station to the autonomous mobile work device; changing a reflectivity state of the first variable reflectivity base station; calculating a first distance between said first variable reflectivity base station and the autonomous mobile work system; changing the reflectivity state of the second variable reflectivity base station; calculating a second distance between the second variable reflectivity base station and the autonomous mobile work system; and calculating the location of the autonomous mobile work system based on the first and second calculated distances. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29)
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18-20. -20. (canceled)
Specification