Autonomous coverage robot navigation system
First Claim
1. A navigation beacon for controlling movement of a mobile robot in a first area and a second area, the mobile robot cleaning the first area and the second area as the mobile robot moves in the first area and the second area, the navigation beacon comprising:
- a portable housing;
a power source in the portable housing;
a gateway beacon emitter in the housing that is operable to emit a gateway marking emission when the mobile robot is within a field of detection, the field of detection extending generally between the first area and the second area, the gateway marking emission being detectable by the mobile robot for preventing the mobile robot from moving from one of the areas, through the field of detection, to the other of the areas; and
a switch in the housing that is operable to switch the navigation beacon to be in one of an OFF mode in which the gateway beacon emitter is in an OFF state, a confinement mode in which the gateway beacon emitter is in an ON state, and a navigation mode in which the gateway beacon emitter is in the ON state and automatically switches to the OFF state in response to a predetermined condition,wherein the predetermined condition includes the gateway marking emission being encountered a plurality of times before the predetermined condition is satisfied to automatically switch the gateway beacon emitter to the OFF state.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A navigation beacon controls movement of a mobile robot in first and second areas. The navigation beacon includes a portable housing, a power source, and an emitter. The emitter is operable to emit a gateway marking emission when the robot is within a field of detection that extends between the areas. The gateway marking emission is detectable by the robot and prevents the robot from moving from one of the areas, through the field of detection, to the other of the areas. A switch is operable to switch the navigation beacon to be in an OFF mode in which the gateway beacon emitter is in an OFF state, a confinement mode in which the gateway beacon emitter is in an ON state, and a navigation mode in which the gateway beacon emitter is in the ON state and automatically switches to the OFF state in response to a predetermined condition.
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. A navigation beacon for controlling movement of a mobile robot in a first area and a second area, the mobile robot cleaning the first area and the second area as the mobile robot moves in the first area and the second area, the navigation beacon comprising:
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a portable housing; a power source in the portable housing; a gateway beacon emitter in the housing that is operable to emit a gateway marking emission when the mobile robot is within a field of detection, the field of detection extending generally between the first area and the second area, the gateway marking emission being detectable by the mobile robot for preventing the mobile robot from moving from one of the areas, through the field of detection, to the other of the areas; and a switch in the housing that is operable to switch the navigation beacon to be in one of an OFF mode in which the gateway beacon emitter is in an OFF state, a confinement mode in which the gateway beacon emitter is in an ON state, and a navigation mode in which the gateway beacon emitter is in the ON state and automatically switches to the OFF state in response to a predetermined condition, wherein the predetermined condition includes the gateway marking emission being encountered a plurality of times before the predetermined condition is satisfied to automatically switch the gateway beacon emitter to the OFF state. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A robot confinement system for controlling movement of a mobile robot in a first area and a second area, comprising:
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a navigation beacon, including; a portable housing; a power source in the portable housing; a gateway beacon emitter in the housing that is operable to emit a gateway marking emission when the mobile robot is within a field of detection, the field of detection extending generally between the first area and the second area; and a switch in the housing that is operable to switch the navigation beacon to be in one of an OFF mode in which the gateway beacon emitter is in an OFF state, a confinement mode in which the gateway beacon emitter is in an ON state, and a navigation mode in which the gateway beacon emitter is in the ON state and automatically switches to the OFF state in response to a predetermined condition; and a mobile robot, including; a chassis including at least two wheels; at least one motor connected to the at least two wheels for moving the mobile robot in the areas; a cleaner operable to clean the areas when the mobile robot moves in the areas; a controller operable to control the at least one motor to control the movement of the mobile robot in the areas; and a detector operable to detect the gateway marking emission, wherein the controller controls the at least one motor to prevent the mobile robot from moving from one of the areas, through the field of detection, to the other of the areas in response to detection of the gateway marking emission, and wherein the gateway marking emission is encountered a plurality of times before the predetermined condition is satisfied to automatically switch the gateway beacon emitter to the OFF state. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A method for controlling movement of a mobile robot in a first area and a second area with a portable navigation beacon, the navigation beacon disposed between the areas and including a field of detection extending generally between the areas, the method comprising:
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switching the navigation beacon to be in one of an OFF mode, a confinement mode, and a navigation mode, wherein, in the OFF mode, the method further comprises; allowing, with the navigation beacon, the mobile robot to move freely from one of the areas, through the field of detection, to the other of the areas, in the confinement mode, the method further comprises; emitting, with the navigation beacon, a gateway marking emission when the mobile robot is within the field of detection; detecting, with the mobile robot, the gateway marking emission; and controlling, with the mobile robot, the movement of the mobile robot to prevent the mobile robot from moving from one of the areas, through the field of detection, into the other of the areas in response to detection of the gateway marking emission, in the navigation mode, the method further comprises; allowing, with the navigation beacon, the mobile robot to move freely from one of the first area and the second area to the other of the first area and the second area when the navigation beacon is in an OFF state; emitting, from the navigation beacon, a gateway marking emission when the mobile robot is within the field of detection when the navigation beacon is in an ON state; detecting, with the mobile robot, the gateway marking emission emitted by the navigation beacon; controlling, with the mobile robot, the movement of the mobile robot to prevent the mobile robot from moving from one of the areas, through the field of detection, into the other of the areas in response to detection of the gateway marking emission; and automatically switching the navigation beacon from the ON state to the OFF state in response to a predetermined condition, and wherein the gateway marking emission is encountered a plurality of times before the predetermined condition is satisfied to automatically switch the gateway beacon emitter to the OFF state. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27)
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Specification