Control apparatus of mobile that applies fluid on floor

• US 5,998,953 A
• Filed: 08/20/1998
• Issued: 12/07/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 08/22/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Moneual Incorporated (Hong-Seok Park, MBA)
• Original Assignee: Minolta Corporation Limited (Konica Minolta Inc.)
• Inventors: Kobayashi, Takao, Kawagoe, Nobukazu, Nakamura, Kyoko
• Primary Examiner(s): Sircus, Brian
• Application Number:
  US09/137,147
• Time in Patent Office: 474 Days
• Field of Search: 701/22, 901/1, 901/43, 318/580, 318/587, 134/4, 15/49.1-52.2
• US Class Current: 318/587
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2201/04 Automatic control of the travelling movement; Automatic obstacle detection
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0219 ensuring the processing of the whole working surface
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0227 using mechanical sensing means, e.g. for sensing treated area
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0238 using obstacle or wall sensors G05D1/0246 and G05D1/0289 take precedence; lidar systems designed for anti-collision purposes G01S17/93
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/027 comprising intertial navigation means, e.g. azimuth detector inertial navigation G01C21/16; inertial navigation combined with non-inertial navigation instruments G01C21/165
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0272 comprising means for registering the travel distance, e.g. revolutions of wheels measuring distance traversed on the ground by vehicles, e.g. using odometers G01C22/00

Abstract

In order to improve the quality of the work of a robot that applies wax, a user enters the ambient environment data (temperature, wax concentration, and the like) of the robot via a controller prior to initiation of the work by the robot. According to the input data, the maximum time (drying time) T before another coat of wax is to be applied without degradation in quality is identified. A travel path is generated according to the time T. The travel is actually carried out according to the calculated path.

Claims

1. A mobile control apparatus for controlling a mobile that carries out a work on a first region, and then a work on a second region having an area common to said first region, said mobile control apparatus comprising:

first set means for setting a time between said mobile carrying out a work on the common area of said first and second regions and said mobile carrying out the next work on that area, and

second set means for setting a travel path of said mobile according to the time set by said first set means.

2. The mobile control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first set means sets a numerical value input through an input unit as the time.

3. The mobile control apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

an input unit for entering information associated with a factor affecting the work carried out by said mobile,

wherein said first set means sets the time according to the information input through said input unit.

4. The mobile control apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said second set means sets the travel path of said mobile so that a time interval of the work on the common area of said first and second regions is shorter than the time set by said first set means.

5. The mobile control apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a detection unit for detecting information associated with a factor that affects the work carried out by said mobile,

wherein said first set means sets the time according to the information detected by said detection unit.

6. The mobile control apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said second set means sets the travel path of said mobile so that a time interval of the work on the common area of said first and second regions is shorter than the time set by said first set means.

7. The mobile control apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising:

an input unit for entering information associated with a factor affecting the work carried out by said mobile,

wherein said first set means sets the time according to the information detected by said detection unit and the information input through said input unit.

8. The mobile control apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising:

third set means to detect information by said detection unit during travel of said mobile to reset a time interval of the work on the common area of said first and second regions and the travel path of said mobile.

9. A mobile work apparatus for carrying out a work on a first region and then a work on a second region having an area common to said first region, said mobile work apparatus comprising:

a body carrying out a predetermined work while moving,

first set means for setting a time between said body carrying out a work on the common area of said first and second regions and said body carrying out the next work on that area, and

second set means for setting a travel path of said mobile work apparatus according to the time set by said first set means.

10. The mobile work apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said second set means sets the travel path of said mobile work apparatus so that a time interval of the work on the common area of said first and second regions is shorter than the time set by said first set means.

11. The mobile work apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said first set means sets a numerical value input through an input unit as the time.

12. The mobile work apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising:

an input unit for entering information associated with a factor affecting the work carried out by said mobile work apparatus,

wherein said first set means sets the time according to the information input through said input unit.

13. The mobile work apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising:

a detection unit for detecting information associated with a factor that affects the work carried out by said mobile work apparatus,

wherein said first set means sets the time according to the information detected by said detection unit.

14. The mobile work apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said body repeats straight forward advance and 90°

rotation to move in a work area.