Distributed system of autonomously controlled mobile agents
First Claim
1. A method of controlling movement of a plurality of self-propelled entertainment mobile agents on a surface having a plurality of machine-readable codes indicating locations on the surface, wherein each self-propelled entertainment mobile agent includes a sensor configured to detect the machine-readable codes as the entertainment mobile agent travels along the surface, the method comprising, for each entertainment mobile agent in the plurality, performing the steps of:
- (a) while traveling on the surface, the entertainment mobile agent detecting at least one of the machine-readable codes via the entertainment mobile agent'"'"'s sensor;
(b) responsive to detecting the at least one machine-readable code, the entertainment mobile agent controlling its movement on the surface;
(c) the entertainment mobile agent wirelessly transmitting data regarding the detected code to a basestation for use at the basestation in determining a location of the entertainment mobile agent and updating a position of the entertainment mobile agent in a virtual representation, and for use at the basestation in determining a specific action to be taken by the entertainment mobile agent based on the data regarding the detected at least one code; and
(d) the entertainment mobile agent wirelessly receiving from the basestation at least one signal to specify the specific action to be taken by the entertainment mobile agent on the surface in a manner whereupon the entertainment mobile agents move in a coordinated manner on the surface.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system includes a drivable surface that includes location encoding markings. A mobile agent is provided that includes a drive motor, an imaging system for taking images of the markings, a vehicle wireless transceiver, and a microcontroller operatively coupled to the motor, the imaging system, and the vehicle wireless transceiver. A basestation is provided that includes a controller operatively coupled to a basestation wireless transceiver. Via wireless communication between the wireless transceivers of the mobile agent and the basestation, an action to be implemented by the mobile agent can be determined by the basestation and communicated to the mobile agent, whereupon the microcontroller of the mobile agent controls detailed movement of the mobile agent on the drivable surface based on images taken of the markings of the drivable surface by the imaging system to cause the mobile agent to implement the action on the drivable surface.
46 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method of controlling movement of a plurality of self-propelled entertainment mobile agents on a surface having a plurality of machine-readable codes indicating locations on the surface, wherein each self-propelled entertainment mobile agent includes a sensor configured to detect the machine-readable codes as the entertainment mobile agent travels along the surface, the method comprising, for each entertainment mobile agent in the plurality, performing the steps of:
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(a) while traveling on the surface, the entertainment mobile agent detecting at least one of the machine-readable codes via the entertainment mobile agent'"'"'s sensor; (b) responsive to detecting the at least one machine-readable code, the entertainment mobile agent controlling its movement on the surface; (c) the entertainment mobile agent wirelessly transmitting data regarding the detected code to a basestation for use at the basestation in determining a location of the entertainment mobile agent and updating a position of the entertainment mobile agent in a virtual representation, and for use at the basestation in determining a specific action to be taken by the entertainment mobile agent based on the data regarding the detected at least one code; and (d) the entertainment mobile agent wirelessly receiving from the basestation at least one signal to specify the specific action to be taken by the entertainment mobile agent on the surface in a manner whereupon the entertainment mobile agents move in a coordinated manner on the surface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification