Mobile robot system using RF module

• US 6,597,143 B2
• Filed: 06/12/2001
• Issued: 07/22/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Lee, Sang-yong, Song, Jeong-gon
• Primary Examiner(s): Dang, Khanh
• Application Number:
  US09/880,405
• Publication Number:
  US 20020060542A1
• Time in Patent Office: 770 Days
• Field of Search: 318/581, 318/587, 318/283, 318/286, 701/23, 340/988, 153/23, 153/401
• US Class Current: 318/581
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2201/04 Automatic control of the travelling movement; Automatic obstacle detection
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/009 Carrying-vehicles; Arrangements of trollies or wheels; Means for avoiding mechanical obstacles
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0246 using a video camera in combination with image processing means

Abstract

A mobile robot system includes a RF module that is under the control of a controlling computer. The mobile robot system includes a running device for moving the mobile robot about a room, an obstacle detecting device for detecting the presence of an obstacle in the mobile robot'"'"'s path, a location recognizing device, a first transceiver for transmitting and receiving a signal to control the various devices, and a controlling computer for data processing the signal from the first transceiver and transmitting a control command to the mobile robot. The controlling computer includes a second transceiver for transmitting and receiving a signal to and from the first transceiver, an image board for processing image data from the obstacle detecting device and the location recognizing device, and connecting means for connecting to the Internet. The mobile robot is compact and sized and can be remotely controlled via the Internet.

Claims

1. A mobile robot system comprising:

a mobile robot comprising;

a running device for moving the mobile robot about a room;

an obstacle detecting device for detecting a presence of an obstacle in a path of the mobile robot, the obstacle detecting device including a camera;

a location recognizing device for recognizing a location of the mobile robot;

a first transceiver for transmitting image data from the camera and receiving a signal to control the running device, the obstacle detecting device and the location recognizing device;

a controlling computer separated from the mobile robot for data processing the signal received from the first transceiver, and transmitting a control command to the mobile robot;

a second transceiver for transmitting and receiving a signal to and from the first transceiver of the mobile robot;

an image board for processing image data from the camera device, the image data being received from the first transceiver by the second transceiver; and

the controlling computer configured to calculate a current location of the mobile robot, determine a shape of an obstacle based upon received image data and responsively send the control command to the mobile robot through the first and second transceiver based upon the location; and

wherein the obstacle avoidance function is off-loaded from the mobile robot to the controlling computer.

2. The mobile robot system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the controlling computer comprises:

connecting means for connecting the controlling computer to the Internet.

3. The mobile robot system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mobile robot comprises a vacuum cleaner including:

a suction port for sucking in contaminants;

a dust collecting portion for collecting the contaminants therein; and

a motor driving portion for generating a suction force.

4. The mobile robot system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mobile robot further comprises a monitoring vision camera.

5. The mobile robot system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the image board processes image data through a thresholding process.

6. The mobile robot system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the controlling computer includes a mainboard coupled to the image board.

7. The mobile robot system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the obstacle detecting device includes a line laser, the image data is from a linear light beam from the line laser and the image board processes the image data through a thresholding and thinning process.

8. The mobile robot system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the camera photographs a ceiling and a base mark is attach thereto.