Autonomous machine

• US 20060150361A1
• Filed: 02/13/2004
• Published: 07/13/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Dyson Technology Limited (Beeswax Holdings UK Limited)
• Original Assignee: Dyson Technology Limited (Beeswax Holdings UK Limited)
• Inventors: Bommer, Alexander Philip, Aldred, Michael David
• Application Number:
  US10/543,756
• Publication Number:
  US 20060150361A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 15/319
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2202/16 Mobile applications, e.g. portable devices, trailers, devices mounted on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/40 Working vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 9/00 Electric propulsion with power supply external to the vehicle electric propulsion for monorail vehicles, suspension vehicles or rack railways B60L13/00; in combination with batteries or fuel cells within the vehicle B60L50/53
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0219 ensuring the processing of the whole working surface
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0227 using mechanical sensing means, e.g. for sensing treated area
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0272 comprising means for registering the travel distance, e.g. revolutions of wheels measuring distance traversed on the ground by vehicles, e.g. using odometers G01C22/00
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0274 using mapping information stored in a memory device navigation using map-matching G01C21/30

Abstract

An autonomous machine that needs to establish when it has completed a circuit of a working area includes a main body and a marker such as an annular magnetic puck. The machine includes a control system configured to cause the main body to traverse a working area according to a predetermined sequence. A detector is provided to detect the marker, and either the detector or the marker may be located on the main body. The control system is configured to recognize a predetermined location in the area, or to effect a predetermined part of the sequence, on detecting the marker. Preferably, the marker is slidably located on a power cable for the machine.

Claims

1. An autonomous machine comprising a main body, a marker and a control system configured to cause the main body to traverse a working area according to a predetermined sequence, the control system comprising a detector for detecting the marker, either the detector or the marker being located on the main body,

wherein the control system is configured to recognize a predetermined location in the area, or to effect a predetermined part of the sequence, on detecting the marker.

2. An autonomous machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the predetermined part of the sequence comprises the start of the sequence.

3. An autonomous machine as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the predetermined part of the sequence comprises causing the main body to return to a starting point in the working area.

4. An autonomous machine as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the predetermined part of the sequence comprises the end of the sequence.

5. An autonomous machine as claimed in claim 1 or 2, further comprising a power cable for providing power to the main body, wherein the detector or the marker is located on the power cable.

6. An autonomous machine as claimed in claim 5, wherein the detector or the marker is locatable at a plurality of positions on the cable.

7. An autonomous machine as claimed in claim 5, wherein the detector or the marker is slidably movable along the cable.

8. An autonomous machine as claimed in claim 5, wherein the detector or the marker is located on the main body adjacent a region where the power cable attaches to or enters the main body.

9. An autonomous machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the marker is magnetic and the detector is arranged to detect a magnetic field.

10. An autonomous machine as claimed in claim 9, wherein the detector includes a Hall effect sensor.

11. An autonomous machine as claimed in claim 9, wherein the detector includes a reed switch.

12. An autonomous machine as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a second detector or marker located on the main body.

13. An autonomous machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the main body is powered by an external power supply and the main body stores a length of power cable that is connectable to the external supply.

14. An autonomous machine as claimed in claim 13, wherein the main body is arranged to dispense and rewind the power cable.

23. A vacuum cleaner comprising an autonomous machine as claimed in claim 1.

25. An autonomous machine as claimed in claim 3, wherein the predetermined part of the sequence comprises the end of the sequence.

26. An autonomous machine as claimed in claim 5, wherein the marker is magnetic and the detector is arranged to detect a magnetic field.

27. An autonomous machine as claimed in claim 26, wherein the detector includes a Hall effect sensor.

28. An autonomous machine as claimed in claim 26, wherein the detector includes a reed switch.

29. An autonomous machine as claimed in claim 5, further comprising a second detector or marker located on the main body.

30. An autonomous machine as claimed in claim 5, wherein the main body is powered by an external power supply and stores a length of power cable that is connectable to the external supply.

31. An autonomous machine as claimed in claim 30, wherein the main body is arranged to dispense and rewind the power cable.

32. A vacuum cleaner comprising an autonomous machine as claimed in claim 5.

15. A method of operating an autonomous machine comprising a main body, a marker and a control system including a detector or detecting the marker, the control system being configured to cause the main body to traverse a working area according to a predetermined sequence, the method comprising detecting the marker and then recognizing a predetermined location in the working area or effecting a predetermined part of the sequence.

16. A method as claimed in claim 15, wherein the machine comprises a power cable for providing power to the main body, the method further comprising an initial step of connecting the power cable to an external power supply.

17. A method as claimed in claim 16, wherein the main body stores a length of power cable, the initial step of the method further comprising dispensing a portion of the length of cable.

18. A method as claimed in claim 16 or 17, further comprising locating the marker or detector at a convenient position on the cable.

19. A method as claimed in claim 18, comprising locating the marker or detector at the convenient position by sliding it along the cable.

20. A method as claimed in claim 15, wherein the predetermined part of the sequence comprises the start of the sequence.

21. A method as claimed in claim 15, wherein the predetermined part of the sequence comprises controlling the body to return to a starting point

22. A method as claimed in claim 15, wherein the predetermined part of the sequence comprises the end of the sequence

24. (canceled)