Programmable robotic apparatus
First Claim
1. A programmable robotic apparatus comprising:
- at least two programmable platforms located within an area in which at least one location of interest is to be identified, each programmable platform having a laser mounted thereon, said laser configured to emit a laser beam configured to be emitted along a plurality of lines within a plane;
a receiver configured to receive a command from a user;
a computer coupled to said receiver and to each of said at least two programmable platforms, said computer configured to control said at least two platforms to operate each of said lasers mounted on said at least two programmable platforms to designate said location of interest as a location at which an emitted laser beam from a first of said at least two programmable platforms intersects an emitted laser beam from a second of said at least two programmable platforms;
a drive system and a drive mechanism configured to provide a selected one of said at least two programmable platforms with mobility;
a control module in electrical communication with said drive system, said control module configured to command the motion of the programmable robotic apparatus;
a memory module in electrical communication with said control module, said memory module configured to store and retrieve information;
a transmitter in electrical communication with said control module, said transmitter configured to transmit a signal comprising at least a unique identifier associated with the robotic apparatus; and
a receiver in electrical communication with said control module, said receiver configured to receive a signal comprising location information;
whereby said programmable robotic apparatus is able to discern at least one of a location and an orientation of said programmable robotic apparatus.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A robotic apparatus for traversing a selected area autonomously that senses orientation relative to “environmental” signals. The robotic apparatus is provided in two models, a master that can record directive and “environmental signal” readings, or that can record received location information, to provide at least one command recorded on a machine-readable medium representing an instruction for traversing an area of interest, and a slave that lacks the recording capability. Both master and slave models can replay recorded commands, and compare the expected orientation from the command with an actual orientation sensed during autonomous operation. If an error exceeding a predetermined value is observed, a corrective action is taken. The robotic apparatus is able to utilize a tool to perform a task.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A programmable robotic apparatus comprising:
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at least two programmable platforms located within an area in which at least one location of interest is to be identified, each programmable platform having a laser mounted thereon, said laser configured to emit a laser beam configured to be emitted along a plurality of lines within a plane; a receiver configured to receive a command from a user; a computer coupled to said receiver and to each of said at least two programmable platforms, said computer configured to control said at least two platforms to operate each of said lasers mounted on said at least two programmable platforms to designate said location of interest as a location at which an emitted laser beam from a first of said at least two programmable platforms intersects an emitted laser beam from a second of said at least two programmable platforms; a drive system and a drive mechanism configured to provide a selected one of said at least two programmable platforms with mobility; a control module in electrical communication with said drive system, said control module configured to command the motion of the programmable robotic apparatus; a memory module in electrical communication with said control module, said memory module configured to store and retrieve information; a transmitter in electrical communication with said control module, said transmitter configured to transmit a signal comprising at least a unique identifier associated with the robotic apparatus; and a receiver in electrical communication with said control module, said receiver configured to receive a signal comprising location information; whereby said programmable robotic apparatus is able to discern at least one of a location and an orientation of said programmable robotic apparatus. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of operating a programmable robotic comprising the steps of:
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providing a programmable robotic apparatus, comprising; at least two programmable platforms located within an area in which at least one location of interest is to be identified, each programmable platform having a laser mounted thereon, said laser configured to emit a laser beam configured to be emitted along a plurality of lines within a plane; a receiver configured to receive a command from a user; and a computer coupled to said receiver and to each of said at least two programmable platforms, said computer configured to control said at least two platforms to operate each of said lasers mounted on said at least two programmable platforms to designate said location of interest as a location at which an emitted laser beam from a first of said at least two programmable platforms intersects an emitted laser beam from a second of said at least two programmable platforms; providing a command issued by a user to said computer by way of said receiver to cause said computer to operate said each of said lasers to provide said designation of said location of interest; providing to a selected one of said at least two programmable platforms additional apparatus comprising; a drive system and a drive mechanism configured to provide said selected one of said at least two programmable platforms with mobility; a control module in electrical communication with said drive system, said control module configured to command the motion of the programmable robotic apparatus; a memory module in electrical communication with said control module, said memory module configured to store and retrieve information; a transmitter in electrical communication with said control module, said transmitter configured to transmit a signal comprising at least a unique identifier associated with the robotic apparatus; a receiver in electrical communication with said control module, said receiver configured to receive a signal comprising location information; and at least one command recorded on a machine-readable medium, said at least one command representing an instruction for traversing an area of interest; operating said programmable robotic apparatus according to said at least one command recorded on said machine-readable medium; discerning at least one of a location and an orientation of said programmable robotic apparatus; comparing said at least one of said location and said orientation of said programmable robotic apparatus to a corresponding one of a location and a direction recorded in said at least one command to determine an error signal; and in the event that said error signal exceeds a predetermined value, commanding said programmable robotic apparatus to take a corrective action; whereby said programmable robotic apparatus autonomously traverses an area of interest. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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Specification