System, apparatus, and method for managing and controlling robot competitions

• US 8,014,897 B2
• Filed: 01/04/2008
• Issued: 09/06/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Innovation First Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Innovation First Incorporated
• Inventors: Adams, Paul S., Mimlitch, Robert H. III, Norman, David A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Trammell; James P
• Assistant Examiner(s): Marc; McDieunel
• Application Number:
  US11/969,862
• Publication Number:
  US 20080100250A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,341 Days
• Field of Search: 700/245, 700/248, 700/250, 700/251, 700/253, 700/258, 700/259, 700/246, 700/247, 700/249, 700/252, 700/255, 700/254, 700/256, 700/260, 700/264, 318/568.1, 318/568.12, 318/568.15, 318/567, 318/568.11, 318/568.17, 318/568.2, 318/569, 318/573, 318/580, 318/587, 901/22, 901/23, 901/43, 901/45, 901/1, 901/3, 901/6, 901/7, 901/8, 901/9, 901/46, 901/47, 343/247, 343/365, 701/23, 701/24, 701/28, 701/50, 701/200, 701/207, 701/213, 701/217, 701/220, 701/301, 180/8.1, 180/8.6, 180/168, 180/169, 180/318, 726/1, 726/11, 446/454, 463/58, 297/87, 714/273
• US Class Current: 700/245
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 11/00 Self-movable toy figures
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 2200/00 Computerized interactive toys, e.g. dolls
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 30/04 using wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0022 characterised by the communication link data switching networks in general H04L12/00
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0287 involving a plurality of land vehicles, e.g. fleet or convoy travelling traffic control systems for road vehicles G08G1/00, particularly anticollision systems G08G1/16

Abstract

A system and method for operating robots in a robot competition. One embodiment of the system may include operator interfaces, where each operator interface is operable to control movement of a respective robot. A respective operator interface may be in communication with an associated operator radio, where each radio may have a low power RF output signal. A robot controller may be coupled to each robot in the robot competition. A robot radio may be coupled to a respective robot and in communication with a respective robot controller and operator radio. The robot radios may have a low power RF output signal while communicating with the respective operator radios. Alternatively, the radios may be short range radios, where a distance of communication may be a maximum of approximately 500 feet.

Claims

1. A system for operating robots in a robot competition, the system comprising:

a field controller operable to manage the operation of a plurality of robots on a field of an arena by coordinating enable and disable functionality of the robots to establish simultaneous start and stop times for a plurality of robot competition operators and managing operator-to-robot communications for the plurality of robots, each robot coupled to a robot controller;

a plurality of operator interfaces coupled to the field controller, each operator interface corresponding to a different one of the plurality of robots and operable upon being authorized by the field controller to communicate with the corresponding robot over a radio communications link to allow an operator to control movement of the corresponding robot, the radio communications link established by the field controller and unique for each operator interface; and

one or more radios operable to allow communication between each operator interface and the robot controller coupled to the robot corresponding to the operator interface.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein each radio comprises a low power RF output signal.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein each radio comprises a short communication range.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the field controller is operable to enable and disable robots in the field.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the field controller allocates channels on which the radio(s) communicate.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein each of the radio(s) operate on a separate channel as commanded by a corresponding arena controller.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more operator interfaces further comprise a plurality of unique operator interfaces, each of the unique operator interfaces compatible to communicate with its corresponding robot upon coupling to the field controller.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the one or more operator interfaces are plug-and-play interfaces.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the field controller is further operable to manage the operation of robots off a field of an arena.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the field controller manages the operation of robots on a robot staging area.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein the field controller disables control of the robots without disabling the radio communication link with the robot controller.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the field controller is further operable to:

provide a remote disabling mechanism for the robot competition, the remote disabling mechanism operable to selectively disable at least one of a plurality of robots by selectively disabling operator interface communication with the robot; and

control one or more of the plurality of robots during the robot competition using the remote disabling mechanism.

13. A method for providing safety at a robot competition, the method comprising:

providing a field controller having a remote disabling mechanism for the robot competition, the field controller coupled to a plurality of operator interfaces and operable to coordinate communications between each operator interface and a corresponding robot of a plurality of robots in the robot competition, with each operator interface operable to allow a person to control the corresponding robot, and the remote disabling mechanism operable to selectively disable the plurality of robots independent of persons operating the plurality of robots by disabling operator interface communication with the plurality of robots; and

controlling one or more of the robots during the robot competition using the remote disabling mechanism.

14. A method for conducting a robot competition, the method comprising:

providing to contestant robot operators of the robot competition a plurality of radios, each radio being operable to receive data to control movement of a respective one of the plurality of robots;

establishing a plurality of first communications links between a field controller and the robots through the radios, the first communications links facilitating enable and disable control over the robots by the field controller;

establishing a plurality of second communications links between the robots and a plurality of operator interfaces, the second communications links coordinated by the field controller, each operator interface operable to allow one of the robot operators to control the movement of a corresponding robot using the respective radio; and

coordinating individual matches during the robot competition using the plurality of radios.