Autonomous robot localization
First Claim
1. A location estimation system for use with an autonomous lawn mowing robot, the system comprising:
- a plurality of synthetic surfaces positioned with respect to a mowable space in an environment;
a radiation source coupled to the lawn mowing robot;
a detector coupled to the lawn mowing robot and configured to detect radiation reflected by objects in the environment; and
a controller configured to controllably direct radiation from the radiation source to scan the environment and vary a scan rate of the directed radiation as a function of detected radiation reflected from one or more of the synthetic surfaces;
wherein the controller is further configured to direct the radiation source to make a first scan of the environment at a first scan rate and wherein a modulator coupled to the radiation source and configured to modulate radiation emitted from the radiation source is configured to direct the radiation source to make a second scan of the environment, a limited portion of the second scan performed at a second scan rate different from the first scan rate.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A location estimation system for use with an autonomous lawn mowing robot, comprises a plurality of synthetic surfaces positioned with respect to a mowable space in an environment, a radiation source coupled to the lawn mowing robot, a detector coupled to the lawn mowing robot and configured to detect radiation reflected by objects in the environment, and a controller configured to controllably direct radiation from the radiation source to scan the environment, and to vary at least one of an output power of the directed radiation and a scan rate of the directed radiation, as a function of detected radiation reflected from one or more of the synthetic surfaces.
369 Citations
28 Claims
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1. A location estimation system for use with an autonomous lawn mowing robot, the system comprising:
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a plurality of synthetic surfaces positioned with respect to a mowable space in an environment; a radiation source coupled to the lawn mowing robot; a detector coupled to the lawn mowing robot and configured to detect radiation reflected by objects in the environment; and a controller configured to controllably direct radiation from the radiation source to scan the environment and vary a scan rate of the directed radiation as a function of detected radiation reflected from one or more of the synthetic surfaces; wherein the controller is further configured to direct the radiation source to make a first scan of the environment at a first scan rate and wherein a modulator coupled to the radiation source and configured to modulate radiation emitted from the radiation source is configured to direct the radiation source to make a second scan of the environment, a limited portion of the second scan performed at a second scan rate different from the first scan rate. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A location estimation system for use with an autonomous lawn mowing robot, the system comprising:
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a plurality of synthetic surfaces positioned with respect to a mowable space in an environment; a radiation source coupled to the lawn mowing robot; a detector coupled to the lawn mowing robot and configured to detect radiation reflected by objects in the environment; a controller configured to controllably direct radiation from the radiation source to scan the environment and vary an output power of the directed radiation as a function of detected radiation reflected from one or more of the synthetic surfaces; and a modulator coupled to the radiation source and configured to modulate radiation emitted from the radiation source; wherein the controller is configured to direct the modulator to vary a beam focus of the radiation source in response to detection of reflected radiation. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A location estimation system for use with an autonomous lawn mowing robot, the system comprising:
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a plurality of synthetic surfaces positioned with respect to a mowable space in an environment; a radiation source coupled to the lawn mowing robot; a detector coupled to the lawn mowing robot and configured to detect radiation reflected by objects in the environment; a controller configured to controllably direct radiation from the radiation source to scan the environment and vary a scan rate of the directed radiation as a function of detected radiation reflected from one or more of the synthetic surfaces; and a modulator coupled to the radiation source and configured to modulate radiation emitted from the radiation source; wherein the controller is further configured to direct the radiation source to make a first scan of the environment at a first scan rate, wherein the modulator is configured to direct the radiation source to make a second scan of the environment, a limited portion of the second scan is performed at a second scan rate different from the first scan rate, and wherein the controller is further configured to vary a spin rate of the radiation source and alternate between a faster spin rate and a slower spin rate after a set number of rotations. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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Specification