Mobile robot system and method of remote-controlling the same

• US 20070050084A1
• Filed: 03/22/2006
• Published: 03/01/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Samsung Gwangju Electronics Co., Ltd. (Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Samsung Gwangju Electronics Co., Ltd. (Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.)
• Inventors: Lim, Kwang-soo, Ko, Jang-youn, Jeung, Sam-jong, Lee, Ju-sang, Song, Jeong-gon
• Application Number:
  US11/385,893
• Publication Number:
  US 20070050084A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/245
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2201/04 Automatic control of the travelling movement; Automatic obstacle detection
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2805 Parameters or conditions being sensed
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2852 Elements for displacement of the vacuum cleaner or the accessories therefor, e.g. wheels, casters or nozzles
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2857 User input or output elements for control, e.g. buttons, switches or displays
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2873 Docking units or charging stations for autonomous or robotic vacuum cleaners A47L2201/02
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2884 Details of arrangements of batteries or their installation
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2894 Details related to signal transmission in suction cleaners
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0016 characterised by the operator's input device input arrangements for computing systems in general G06F3/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/007 with remote control systems remote control in general G08C

Abstract

A mobile robot system includes: a mobile robot; a station configured to accommodate the mobile robot; a call connection unit provided at the home station and configured to receive a call; and a call signal conversion unit configured to convert the call into a control signal and to transmit the control signal to the mobile robot.

Claims

1. A mobile robot system, comprising:

a mobile robot;

a station configured to accommodate the mobile robot;

a call connection unit provided at the home station and configured to receive a call; and

a call signal conversion unit configured to convert the call into a control signal and to transmit the control signal to the mobile robot.

2. A mobile robot system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

means for transmitting a task completion signal from the mobile robot; and

means for receiving the task completion signal at the station.

3. A mobile robot system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the call includes a dual tone multi-frequency (DTMF) signal.

4. A mobile robot system as claimed in claim 3, wherein at least one DTMF signal corresponds to a task to be performed by the mobile robot.

5. A mobile robot system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the call signal conversion unit is configured to transmit the control signal using infrared rays.

6. A mobile robot system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the call signal conversion unit is configured to transmit the control signal using radio frequency signals.

7. A mobile robot system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the call connection unit receives a call after an identification signal is received.

8. A mobile robot system as claimed in claim 7, wherein the call connection unit is configured to generate a call after receipt of the task completion signal.

9. A mobile robot system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the home station further comprises a water supply unit for supplying water to the mobile robot.

10. A mobile robot system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the home station is provided with a telephone connected to a telephone line.

11. A method of remote controlling a mobile robot, the method comprising:

transmitting a signal indicating a task;

converting the signal to a control signal;

transmitting the control signal to the mobile robot; and

causing the task to be performed by the mobile robot based on the control signal.

12. A method as claimed in claim 11, further comprising transmitting a second signal indicating that the control signal has been transmitted.

13. A method as claimed in claim 12, further comprising initiating a call to report transmission of the control signal after transmitting the second signal.

14. A method as claimed in claim 11, further comprising:

transmitting a task completion signal from the mobile robot after the task is completed; and

transmitting a signal corresponding to the received task completion signal from the station to a number to indicate that the task is completed.

15. A method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the call signal includes a dual tone multi-frequency (DTMF) signal.

16. A method as claimed in claim 14, wherein at least one DTMF signal corresponds to a task to be performed by the mobile robot.

17. A method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the control signal transmission step comprises:

judging if the call is a robot control call;

connecting the call based at least in part on the judging;

detecting an identification number;

interrupting the call if no identification number is detected;

converting the call into a control signal receivable by the mobile robot; and

transmitting the control signal to the mobile robot.