System and method for managing and controlling robot competition

• US 8,504,200 B2
• Filed: 09/02/2011
• Issued: 08/06/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Innovation First Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Innovation First Incorporated
• Inventors: Norman, David A., Mimlitch, Robert H. III, Adams, Paul S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Marc, McDieunel
• Application Number:
  US13/224,996
• Publication Number:
  US 20120029695A1
• Time in Patent Office: 704 Days
• Field of Search: 701/245, 701/248, 701/250, 701/251, 701/253, 701/258, 701/259, 701/23, 318/568.1, 318/568.11, 318/568.12, 318/568.15, 318/567, 318/569, 318/581, 343/247, 343/365, 180/8.1, 180/168, 180/169, 901/1, 901/6, 901/22, 901/23, 901/43, 901/45
• 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, said system comprising:

a plurality of operator interfaces, each operator interface being operable to control movement of a respective robot;

a first plurality of radios, each first radio being in communication with a respective operator interface, and having a low power RF output signal, each first radio tuned to a unique communications channel;

a plurality of robots;

a plurality of robot controllers, each robot controller coupled to a respective robot; and

a second plurality of radios, each second radio coupled to a respective robot and in communication with a respective robot controller and first radio, and having a low power RF output signal while communicating with the respective first radio, each second radio tuned to a communications channel corresponding to the unique communications channel of a corresponding first radio.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the low power RF output signal is a maximum of approximately 0.25 watts.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein said first plurality of radios have a maximum communication range of approximately 500 feet.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein said first plurality of radios are substantially the same.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein said first and second radios operate in full duplex.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein said first and second radios communicate on an RS-422 communication standard.

7. A system for operating robots in a robot competition, said system comprising:

a plurality of operator interfaces, each operator interface being operable to control movement of a respective robot;

a first plurality of radios, each first radio being in communication with a respective operator interface on a unique communications channel, and having a short communication range;

a plurality of robots;

a plurality of robot controllers, each robot controller coupled to a respective robot; and

a second plurality of radios, each second radio coupled to a respective robot and in communication with a respective robot controller and first radio on the unique communications channel as a corresponding first radio, and having a short communication range.

8. The system according to claim 7, wherein said first radios have low power RF output signal of a maximum of approximately 0.25 watts.

9. The system according to claim 7, wherein the short communication range is a maximum of approximately 500 feet.

10. The system according to claim 7, wherein said first plurality of radios are substantially the same.

11. The system according to claim 7, wherein said first and second radios operate in full duplex.

12. The system according to claim 7, wherein said first and second radios communicate on an RS-422 communication standard.

13. A system for controlling a robot competition having a plurality of robots engaged therein, said system comprising:

at least one arena controller operable to provide control of the robots;

a plurality of operator interfaces coupled to said at least one arena controller; and

a plurality of operator radios being in one-to-one correspondence with said plurality of operator interfaces and coupled thereto, each of the plurality of operator radios in communication with a corresponding operator interface on a unique communications channel.

14. The system according to claim 13, wherein each of said plurality of operator radios operate on a separate channel as commanded by a corresponding arena controller.

15. The system according to claim 14, wherein said at least one arena controller further provides control of said operator interfaces.

16. The system according to claim 13, wherein said operator radios are capable of communicating on channels restricted for tournament use.

17. The system according to claim 13, wherein the control includes at least one of the following:

enabling and disabling of the robots, and

allocating of a channel.

18. The system according to claim 13, further comprising a plurality of robot controllers operable to control a corresponding robot, each robot controller coupled to a robot radio to communicate with a corresponding operator radio.

19. The system according to claim 18, wherein the robot controllers include a sweep means for sweeping the operator frequencies of the robot radios.

20. The system according to claim 13, further comprising a field controller coupled to said at least one arena controller.