Method for establishing a desired area of confinement for an autonomous robot and autonomous robot implementing a control system for executing the same
First Claim
1. A method of defining an area of confinement for an autonomous robot comprising:
- a) positioning the autonomous robot at a first location point P1, the autonomous robot comprising a location tracking unit, and recording the first location point P1 within a memory device;
b) moving the autonomous robot from the first location point P1 to a plurality of location points P2-N and recording each of the plurality of location points P2-N within the memory device; and
c) defining, with a central processing unit, a first closed-geometry comprising the first location point P1 and the plurality of location points P2-N as a perimeter of the area of confinement within the memory device;
wherein the central processing unit automatically performs step c) upon one of the plurality of location points P2-N being determined to be substantially coincident With the first location point P1; and
wherein the perimeter of the area of confinement is defined in the memory device as map data, and further comprising automatically transmitting the map data to a server upon the first closed-geometry being defined.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method of establishing an area of confinement and an autonomous robot for performing a task within the area of confinement. In one aspect, the invention can be a method of defining an area of confinement for an autonomous robot comprising: a) positioning the autonomous robot at a first location point P1, the autonomous robot comprising a location tracking unit, and recording the first location point P1 within a memory device; b) moving the autonomous robot from the first location point P1 to a plurality of location points P2-N and recording each of the plurality of location points P2-N within the memory device; and c) defining, with a central processing unit, a first closed-geometry comprising the first location point P1 and the plurality of location points P2-N as a perimeter of the area of confinement within the memory device.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method of defining an area of confinement for an autonomous robot comprising:
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a) positioning the autonomous robot at a first location point P1, the autonomous robot comprising a location tracking unit, and recording the first location point P1 within a memory device; b) moving the autonomous robot from the first location point P1 to a plurality of location points P2-N and recording each of the plurality of location points P2-N within the memory device; and c) defining, with a central processing unit, a first closed-geometry comprising the first location point P1 and the plurality of location points P2-N as a perimeter of the area of confinement within the memory device; wherein the central processing unit automatically performs step c) upon one of the plurality of location points P2-N being determined to be substantially coincident With the first location point P1; and wherein the perimeter of the area of confinement is defined in the memory device as map data, and further comprising automatically transmitting the map data to a server upon the first closed-geometry being defined. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 11, 12)
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7. The method of claim wherein the memory device is housed within the autonomous robot and the autonomous robot further comprises a transceiver, the method further comprising:
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d) transmitting, from the autonomous robot to the server during operation of the autonomous robot performing a task, the map data indicative of the perimeter of the area of confinement and a location of the autonomous robot within the area of confinement; e) the server transmitting said map data to an external device; and f) displaying said map, data on a display of the external device to visually represent status of a work session of the autonomous robot. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10)
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13. An autonomous robot comprising:
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a housing, a control system, and a plurality of drive wheels, the control system comprising a location tracking unit, a memory device, a data receiving port for receiving signals from an external device, and a central processing unit; and the central processing unit configured to;
(1) track location of the autonomous robot based on output generated by the location tracking unit during movement of the autonomous robot;
(2) record a first location point of the autonomous robot within the memory device;
(3) automatically record a plurality of additional discrete location points of the autonomous robot within the memory device while the autonomous robot maneuvers along a perimeter of an area of confinement; and
(4) define a closed-geometry comprising the first location point and the plurality of additional discrete location points as the perimeter of the area of confinement within the memory device, wherein the closed geometry is automatically defined by the central processing unit upon one of the plurality of additional discrete location points being determined to be substantially coincident with the first location point. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. An autonomous robot comprising:
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a housing and a control system, control system comprising a memory device in operable connection with a central processing unit; a capacitive proximity sensor operably coupled to the central processing unit and to the housing, the memory device storing a baseline capacitance value of the capacitive proximity sensor; wherein at least a portion of the housing is operably coupled to the capacitive proximity sensor, the portion of the housing comprising an electrically conductive material; wherein upon an object having a capacitance value being detected in a surrounding area of the autonomous robot while the autonomous robot is activated, the capacitive proximity sensor detects an increase in capacitance value relative to the baseline capacitance value and transmits an increased capacitance value signal to the central processing unit; and wherein upon receiving the increased capacitance value signal from the capacitive proximity sensor, the central processing unit deactivates the autonomous robot. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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Specification