Apparatus and method of assisting an unattended robot

• US 9,393,692 B1
• Filed: 07/29/2013
• Issued: 07/19/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vecna Robotics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Daniel Theobald
• Inventors: Theobald, Daniel
• Primary Examiner(s): Marc, McDieunel
• Assistant Examiner(s): Stroud, James E
• Application Number:
  US13/952,713
• Time in Patent Office: 1,086 Days
• Field of Search: 701/28
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 50/13 Trolleys, e.g. carts
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 12/001 Trolleys for transport of medicaments, food, linen, nursing supplies carts specially adapted for surgery or diagnosis A61B50/13; hand carts B62B3/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/12 Remote controls
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/14 Joysticks
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/16 Touchpads
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/20 Displays or monitors
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/22 for automatically guiding movable devices, e.g. stretchers or wheelchairs in a hospital
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/30 characterised by sensor means
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/726 for automatic deactivation, e.g. deactivation of actuators or motors
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 5/00 Manipulators mounted on wheels or on carriages B25J1/00 takes precedence; programme-controlled manipulators B25J9/00 ; vehicle aspects B60, B62, e.g. remote-controlled steering for motor vehicles B62D1/24; control of position of vehicles G05D1/00
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 9/1666 Avoiding collision or forbidden zones
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/0092 for assembling and dispensing of pharmaceutical articles medical dispensers for private use, A61J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 901/01 Mobile robot

Abstract

A method of controlling a robot, receives a first message from an unattended robot relating to movement of the robot. Receipt of the first message indicates that movement of the robot is impeded by an environmental condition. The method then determines how to correct the impeded movement caused by the environmental condition, and forwards a second message toward the robot having correction information, which enables the robot to move without impediment by the environmental condition.

Claims

1. A robot controller apparatus comprising:

an input port for receiving a first message from an unattended robot relating to movement of the robot, receipt of the first message indicating that movement of the robot is impeded by a non-human object;

a movement controller operatively coupled with the input port, the movement controller being configured to determine how to correct the impeded movement caused by the non-human object; and

an output port operatively coupled with the movement controller, the output port being configured to forward a second message toward the robot having correction information that enables the robot to move without impediment by the non-human object.

2. The robot controller apparatus as defined by claim 1 wherein the input port and output port comprise a single hardware or software interface.

3. The robot controller apparatus as defined by claim 1 wherein the movement controller includes a visual display for displaying visual indicia showing the environment of the robot.

4. The robot controller apparatus as defined by claim 1 wherein the movement includes movement of at least a portion of the entire robot relative to its environment.

5. The robot controller apparatus as defined by claim 1 wherein the robot has an autonomous mode and a manual mode, further wherein the output port is configured to forward control commands toward the robot to control movement of the robot when in the manual mode.

6. The robot controller apparatus as defined by claim 1 wherein the non-human object is an inanimate object.