Restraint device, restraint system and restraint method for restricting robot to carry out task in predetermined area

• US 9,841,766 B2
• Filed: 03/25/2016
• Issued: 12/12/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 01/27/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Shenzhen Silver Star Intelligent Group Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Shenzhen Silver Star Intelligent Technology Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Liang, Xianhua, Huang, Xinming, Wu, Wanshui, Chen, Xingwen, Wu, Qiang, Zhang, Kuanzhe
• Primary Examiner(s): Alharbi, Adam
• Application Number:
  US15/080,600
• Publication Number:
  US 20170212524A1
• Time in Patent Office: 627 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0234 using optical markers or beacons optical beacons per se G01S1/70
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0276 using signals provided by a source external to the vehicle involving a plurality of vehicles G05D1/0287; automatically controlling vehicle speed responsive to externally generated signals B60K31/0058
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 901/01 Mobile robot

Abstract

A restraint device of the disclosure restricts a robot to carry out a task in a predetermined area. The restraint device includes a portable housing, a first signal receiver and a first signal transmitter. The first signal receiver receives signals transmitted from the robot. The first signal transmitter is electrically connected to the first signal receiver, and is configured for communicating with the robot. The first signal receiver includes a plurality of signal receiving units positioned toward a front wall of the portable housing, and the plurality of signal receiving units receive the signals from the robot at a predetermined position and within a predetermined angle range. The first signal transmitter responses to signal received states of the plurality of signal receiving units to communicate with the robot. The disclosure also offers a restraint system and a restraint method thereof.

Claims

1. A restraint device for restricting a robot to carry out a task in a predetermined area, the restraint device comprising a portable housing, a first signal receiver and a first signal transmitter, wherein the first signal receiver is located in the portable housing and is configured for receiving signals transmitted from the robot, and the first signal transmitter is located in the portable housing and is electrically connected to the first signal receiver, the first signal transmitter is configured for communicating with the robot, and wherein the first signal receiver comprises a plurality of signal receiving units positioned toward a front wall of the portable housing, and the plurality of signal receiving units receive the signals from the robot at a predetermined position and within a predetermined angle range;

and wherein the first signal transmitter responses to signal received states of the plurality of signal receiving units to communicate with the robot.

2. The restraint device of claim 1, wherein the portable housing defines a plurality of slits at the front wall of the portable housing corresponding to the plurality of signal receiving units, and first signals at the predetermined position and within the predetermined angle range are restricted to pass through the slits to be received by the plurality of signal receiving units.

3. The restraint device of claim 2, wherein a plurality of baffle-boards are located in each of the slits and tilt toward the front of the portable housing, second signals beyond the predetermined position and the predetermined angle range are reflected out of the portable housing by the plurality of baffle-boards, and the second signals fail to be received by the plurality of signal receiving units.

4. The restraint device of claim 1, further comprising a second signal receiver located at a top of the portable housing, and is electrically connected with the first signal transmitter, and wherein the second signal receiver is configured for receiving a short distance signal transmitted by the robot.

5. The restraint device of claim 1, wherein each signal receiving unit selects from one of a light wave signal receiver and a supersonic signal receiver, and the first signal transmitter is a wireless communication device.

6. A restraint system comprising a restraint device and a robot, the restraint device restricting the robot to carry out a task in a predetermined area, wherein

the restraint device comprises a portable housing, a first signal receiver and a first signal transmitter, wherein the first signal receiver is located in the portable housing and is configured for receiving signals transmitted from the robot, and the first signal transmitter is located in the portable housing and is electrically connected to the first signal receiver, the first signal transmitter is configured for communicating with the robot, and wherein the first signal receiver comprises a plurality of signal receiving units positioned toward a front wall of the portable housing, and the plurality of signal receiving units receive the signals from the robot at a predetermined position and within a predetermined angle range;

and wherein the first signal transmitter responses to signal received states of the plurality of signal receiving units to communicate with the robot, and wherein

the robot comprises a second signal transmitter corresponding to the plurality of signal receiving units of the restraint device,

wherein if a first signal receiving unit of the first signal receiver receives the signals from the robot firstly, as long as a Nth signal receiving unit receives the signals from the robot, the first signal transmitter of the restraint device transmits a first wireless signal to the robot to enable the robot to carry out an evasive action to return to the predetermined area to continue the task, and wherein the number N is greater than the number 1.

7. The restraint system of claim 6, wherein after the first signal receiving unit receives the signals from the robot, the first signal transmitter of the restraint device transmits a second wireless signal to the robot to inform the robot that the robot is close to an open edge of the predetermined area, and the robot moves forward with one speed selected from a constant speed, a slow down speed, and a predetermined speed.

8. The restraint system of claim 6, wherein the restraint device comprises a second signal receiver located at a top of the portable housing, and electrically connected with the first signal transmitter, the second signal transmitter of the robot transmits a long distance signal corresponding to the signal receiving units of the restraint device, and a short distance signal corresponding to the second signal receiver of the restraint device, and when the second signal receiver receives the short distance signal form the robot, the first signal transmitter of the restraint device transmits a third wireless signal to the robot to order the robot to go away the restraint device.

9. A restraint method for restricting a robot to carry out a task in a predetermined area, wherein a restraint device is located at an open edge of the predetermined area, and a plurality of signal receiving units of the restraint device are parallel with the open edge of the predetermined area;

and wherein the restraint method comprises the following steps;

the restraint device is dormant or on standby, a second signal transmitter of the robot transmits signals continually;

when the robot goes close to the open edge of the predetermined area, a first signal receiving unit of the restraint device receives the signals from the robot firstly;

when a Nth signal receiving unit has received the signals from the robot, a first signal transmitter of the restraint device transmits a first wireless signal to the robot to order the robot to carry out an evasive action, wherein the number N is greater than 1;

the restraint device recovers to be dormant or on standby, and the robot goes back to the predetermined area to continue the task according to the evasive action.

10. The restraint method of claim 9, further comprising after the first signal receiving unit receives the signals from the robot, the first signal transmitter of the restraint device transmits a second wireless signal to the robot to inform the robot to go forward with one speed selected from a constant speed, a slow down speed, and a predetermined speed.

11. The restraint method of claim 9, further comprising when a second signal receiver at the top of the restraint device receives a short distance signal transmitted by the second signal transmitter of the robot, the first signal transmitter of the restraint device transmits a third wireless signal to order the robot to go away from the restraint device.

12. The restraint method of claim 9, further comprising when the robot receives the signals of the evasive action, if the robot finishes the task for the predetermined area, the robot is not going to response to the signals of the evasive action, and carries out another task according to a predetermined procedure set in the robot.

13. The restraint method of claim 9, further comprising when the robot receives the signal of evasive action, if the robot finishes the task for the predetermined area, the robot sends a fourth wireless signal to the restraint device to order the restraint device to recover to an original state.