Vehicle operating method and system

• US 9,471,062 B1
• Filed: 12/30/2014
• Issued: 10/18/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vecna Robotics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Daniel Theobald
• Inventors: Theobald, Daniel
• Primary Examiner(s): Trivedi, Atul
• Application Number:
  US14/586,228
• Time in Patent Office: 658 Days
• Field of Search: 701/23
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 19/023 including video camera means
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 5/005 mounted on endless tracks or belts
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 5/007 mounted on wheels
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 9/0087 Dual arms double SCARA arms B25J9/043
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/021 specially adapted to land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0244 using reflecting strips

Abstract

A method and system for operating at least one vehicle are provided. The method comprises providing a multi-mode vehicle having at least two modes of operation, the first mode of operation being fully autonomous and the second mode of operation relying on one or more markers positioned within the environment at least in order to enable the vehicle to navigate within an environment. The method further comprises enabling the multi-mode vehicle to operate in either the first mode of operation, the second mode of operation or both modes of operation simultaneously depending on the particular environment desired to reduce manufacturing variability while accommodating a wider variety of environments.

Claims

1. A method of operating a mobile robot in an environment, comprising:

providing a mobile robot capable of movement about a designated area as both a fully autonomous mobile robot in a first mode of operation, an automated guided vehicle in a second mode of operation that relies on markers within the environment and movement in at least a portion of both the first and second modes of operation at the same time while being capable of autonomously switching back and forth between the first and second modes of operation and both modes of operation without any human intervention as desired as the mobile robot moves within the environment to accomplish one or more tasks;

operating the mobile robot for movement in only the first mode of operation when there no markers positioned in the environment, the second mode of operation when there are markers positioned in the environment and both the first and second modes of operation simultaneously when there are some markers in the environment but additional guidance is needed from the first mode of operation for the robot to move more quickly and safely in the environment; and

switching autonomously without any human intervention between the first and second modes of operation as well as both modes of operation at the same time as the conditions change within the environment to provide movement to the mobile robot within the environment.