Sensor-based safety features for robotic equipment
First Claim
1. A method to implement sensor-based safety features for robotic equipment, the method comprising:
- generating a model image of an environment that surrounds the robotic equipment based on light captured by one or more sensors, wherein a time variation of the model image is stored as a plurality of frames;
receiving, through a user interface that displays the model image, a definition of at least a first boundary and a second boundary within the environment that surrounds the robotic equipment,wherein a distance between the first boundary and the robotic equipment is less than a distance between the second boundary and the robotic equipment;
detecting a change in the model image based on a comparison of one or more of the plurality of frames;
determining whether an unintended object is approaching the robotic equipment based on the detected change;
in response to a determination that the unintended object is approaching the robotic equipment, instructing the robotic equipment to adjust an operating speed of the robotic equipment based on one or more of a proximity and a speed of approach of the unintended object to the robotic equipment; and
in response to detection that the unintended object is leaving the second boundary within the environment that surrounds the robotic equipment, instructing the robotic equipment to increase the operating speed of the robotic equipment,wherein the detection that the unintended object is leaving the second boundary comprises storing the plurality of frames as histograms and determining an absence of the unintended object in response to a determination that a histogram of a current frame matches a histogram of a last known frame in which the unintended object was absent within the second boundary.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Technologies are generally described for sensor-based safety features for robotic equipment, and the implementation thereof. One or more sensors may be positioned relative to the robotic equipment such that the sensors may capture light from at least a portion of an environment surrounding the robotic equipment. In some examples, the sensors may be integrated with the robotic equipment and/or may be configured to rotate. An analysis module coupled to the sensors may build a model image of the environment based on the light captured by the sensors. The analysis module may detect that an unintended object is approaching the robotic equipment in response to detecting a change in the model image, and based on a proximity and/or a speed of approach of the object to the robotic equipment, the analysis module may instruct the robotic equipment to reduce an operating speed and/or stop motion of the robotic equipment.
18 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A method to implement sensor-based safety features for robotic equipment, the method comprising:
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generating a model image of an environment that surrounds the robotic equipment based on light captured by one or more sensors, wherein a time variation of the model image is stored as a plurality of frames; receiving, through a user interface that displays the model image, a definition of at least a first boundary and a second boundary within the environment that surrounds the robotic equipment, wherein a distance between the first boundary and the robotic equipment is less than a distance between the second boundary and the robotic equipment; detecting a change in the model image based on a comparison of one or more of the plurality of frames; determining whether an unintended object is approaching the robotic equipment based on the detected change; in response to a determination that the unintended object is approaching the robotic equipment, instructing the robotic equipment to adjust an operating speed of the robotic equipment based on one or more of a proximity and a speed of approach of the unintended object to the robotic equipment; and in response to detection that the unintended object is leaving the second boundary within the environment that surrounds the robotic equipment, instructing the robotic equipment to increase the operating speed of the robotic equipment, wherein the detection that the unintended object is leaving the second boundary comprises storing the plurality of frames as histograms and determining an absence of the unintended object in response to a determination that a histogram of a current frame matches a histogram of a last known frame in which the unintended object was absent within the second boundary. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. An apparatus configured to implement sensor-based safety features for robotic equipment, the apparatus comprising:
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one or more sensors configured to capture light from an environment that surrounds the robotic equipment; and at least one analysis module communicatively coupled to the one or more sensors, wherein the at least one analysis module is configured to; generate a model image of the environment that surrounds the robotic equipment based on the light captured by the one or more sensors, wherein a time variation of the model image is stored as a plurality of frames; receive, through a user interface that displays the model image, a definition of at least a first boundary and a second boundary within the environment that surrounds the robotic equipment, wherein a distance between the first boundary and the robotic equipment is less than a distance between the second boundary and the robotic equipment; detect a change in the model image based on a comparison of one or more of the plurality of frames; determine whether an unintended object is approaching the robotic equipment based on the detected change; in response to a determination that the unintended object is approaching the robotic equipment, instruct the robotic equipment to adjust an operating speed of the robotic equipment based on one or more of a proximity and a speed of approach of the unintended object to the robotic equipment; and in response to detection that the unintended object is leaving the second boundary within the environment that surrounds the robotic equipment, instruct the robotic equipment to increase the operating speed of the robotic equipment, wherein to detect that the unintended object is leaving the second boundary, the at least one analysis module is configured to store the plurality of frames as histograms and to determine an absence of the unintended object in response to a determination that a histogram of a current frame matches a histogram of a last known frame in which the unintended object was absent within the second boundary. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A system to implement sensor-based safety features for robotic equipment, the system comprising:
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at least one imaging module configured to capture light of an environment that surrounds the robotic equipment through one or more sensors; at least one modeling module configured to generate a model image of the environment that surrounds the robotic equipment based on the light captured by the at least one imaging module, wherein a time variation of the model image is stored as a plurality of frames; at least one detection module configured to detect a change in the model image based on a comparison of one or more of the plurality of frames, and to determine whether an unintended object is approaching the robotic equipment based on the detected change; and at least one controller configured to; receive, through a user interface that displays the model image, a definition of at least a first boundary and a second boundary within the environment that surrounds the robotic equipment, wherein a distance between the first boundary and the robotic equipment is less than a distance between the second boundary and the robotic equipment; instruct the robotic equipment to adjust an operating speed of the robotic equipment based on one or more of a proximity and a speed of approach of the unintended object to the robotic equipment, in response to a determination that the unintended object is approaching the robotic equipment; and instruct the robotic equipment to increase the operating speed of the robotic equipment in response to detection that the unintended object is leaving the second boundary within the environment that surrounds the robotic equipment, wherein to detect that the unintended object is leaving the second boundary, the at least one detection module is configured to store the plurality of frames as histograms and to determine an absence of the unintended object in response to a determination that a histogram of a current frame matches a histogram of a last known frame in which the unintended object was absent within the second boundary. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
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Specification