Dual bumper-light curtain obstacle detection sensor
First Claim
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1. Obstacle detection system for an autonomous mobile vehicle comprising:
- a first bumper disposed laterally across the frontal cross section of the vehicle;
a second bumper, spaced from the first bumper, and disposed laterally across the frontal cross section of the vehicle; and
an array of light sources disposed on the vehicle for emitting a curtain of light beams between the first and second bumpers;
an array of light receivers disposed on the vehicle for receiving the light beams, said light receivers providing an indication of the position of an object intruding between the first and second bumpers towards the vehicle.
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Abstract
An obstacle detection and position sensing system for autonomous mobile vehicles is described. The system includes two spaced-apart contact and position sensitive bumpers disposed across the frontal cross section of the vehicle. Light beams are directed by transceivers and retroreflectors across the frontal cross section area between the two bumpers, forming a light curtain. The combination of the bumpers and light curtain provides complete frontal coverage of the potential collision cross-section of a fairly large vehicle, without obstructing the field of view of sonar, optical, or other forward-looking sensors.
39 Citations
17 Claims
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1. Obstacle detection system for an autonomous mobile vehicle comprising:
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a first bumper disposed laterally across the frontal cross section of the vehicle; a second bumper, spaced from the first bumper, and disposed laterally across the frontal cross section of the vehicle; and an array of light sources disposed on the vehicle for emitting a curtain of light beams between the first and second bumpers; an array of light receivers disposed on the vehicle for receiving the light beams, said light receivers providing an indication of the position of an object intruding between the first and second bumpers towards the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of controlling an autonomous vehicle in an environment containing obstacles comprising:
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sensing contact with obstacles with two spaced-apart bumpers; sensing intrusion of an object into an area between the two bumpers with a light curtain. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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Specification