Robot obstacle detection system
DCFirst Claim
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1. A robot obstacle detection system comprising:
- a robot housing which navigates with respect to a surface;
a sensor subsystem having a defined relationship with respect to the housing and aimed at the surface for detecting the surface, the sensor subsystem including;
an optical emitter which emits a directed beam having a defined field of emission, and a photon detector having a defined field of view which intersects the field of emission of the emitter at a finite region; and
a circuit in communication with the detector for redirecting the robot when the surface does not occupy the region to avoid obstacles.
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Abstract
A robot obstacle detection system including a robot housing which navigates with respect to a surface and a sensor subsystem having a defined relationship with respect to the housing and aimed at the surface for detecting the surface. The sensor subsystem includes an optical emitter which emits a directed beam having a defined field of emission and a photon detector having a defined field of view which intersects the field of emission of the emitter at a region. A circuit in communication with a detector redirects the robot when the surface does not occupy the region to avoid obstacles. A similar system is employed to detect walls.
468 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A robot obstacle detection system comprising:
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a robot housing which navigates with respect to a surface;
a sensor subsystem having a defined relationship with respect to the housing and aimed at the surface for detecting the surface, the sensor subsystem including;
an optical emitter which emits a directed beam having a defined field of emission, and a photon detector having a defined field of view which intersects the field of emission of the emitter at a finite region; and
a circuit in communication with the detector for redirecting the robot when the surface does not occupy the region to avoid obstacles. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A robot wall detection system comprising:
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a robot housing which navigates with respect to a wall;
a sensor subsystem having a defined relationship with respect to the housing and aimed at the wall for detecting the presence of the wall, the sensor subsystem including;
an emitter which emits a directed beam having a defined field of emission, and a detector having a defined field of view which intersects the field of emission of the emitter at a region; and
a circuit in communication with the detector for redirecting the robot when the wall occupies the region. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. An autonomous robot comprising:
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a housing which navigates in at least one direction on a surface;
a first sensor subsystem aimed at the surface for detecting obstacles on the surface; and
a second sensor subsystem aimed at least proximate the direction of navigation for detecting walls, each said subsystem including;
an optical emitter which emits a directed beam having a defined field of emission and a photon detector having a defined field of view which intersects the field of emission of the emitter at a finite, predetermined region.
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20. A sensor subsystem for an autonomous robot which rides on a surface, the sensor subsystem comprising:
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an optical emitter which emits a directed optical beam having a defined field of emission;
a photon detector having a defined field of view which intersects the field of emission of the emitter at a region; and
a circuit in communication with the detector for providing an output when a wall is not present in the region, wherein the output from the circuit causes the robot to be directed back towards the wall when the wall does not occupy the region of intersection of the defined field of emission of the emitter and the defined field of view of the detector.
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Specification