Position detection system for mobile object

• US 7,317,388 B2
• Filed: 03/29/2005
• Issued: 01/08/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Matsumoto, Satoki, Kawabe, Koji
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, HUNG T
• Application Number:
  US11/092,585
• Publication Number:
  US 20050218292A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,015 Days
• Field of Search: 340/539.1, 340/539.13, 340/539.23, 340/572.1, 340/572.3, 340/572.4, 340/825.36, 340/825.49, 340/825.69, 235/487, 235/492, 250/206, 250/221, 250/341.6, 342/47, 342/53, 700/245, 700/259
• US Class Current: 340/539.13
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/74 Systems using reradiation of radio waves, e.g. secondary radar systems; Analogous systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/003 Transmission of data between radar, sonar or lidar systems and remote stations

Abstract

A position detection system for measuring a position of a mobile object traveling throughout a controlled area, the position detection system includes a tag, which is provided on the mobile object, a detector, which obtains object position information which indicates the position of the mobile object, object position information includes direction information and distance information relative to the detector of the mobile object, and the detector travels throughout the controlled area, and a base station which obtains detector position information which indicates the position of the detector, detector position information includes an absolute position and angle within the controlled area of the detector, in order to measure the position within the controlled area of the mobile object based on object position information and detector position information.

Claims

1. A position detection system for measuring a position of a mobile object traveling throughout a controlled area comprising:

a tag provided on the mobile object;

a mobile detector obtaining object position information which indicates the position of the mobile object, object position information includes direction information and distance information relative to the mobile detector of the mobile object, and the mobile detector travels throughout the controlled area;

a base station obtaining detector position information which indicates the position of the mobile detector, detector position information includes an absolute position and angle within the controlled area of the mobile detector, wherein

the position within the controlled area of the mobile object is measured based on object position information and detector position information.

2. A position detection system according to claim 1, wherein the tag transmits a receipt signal to be received by the mobile detector, when a light signal of predetermined wavelength that is irradiated from the mobile detector is received.

3. A position detection system according to claim 2, wherein the tag transmits a receipt signal when the radio wave of predetermined frequency is received.

4. A position detection system according to claim 2, wherein the tag transmits the receipt signal further including a tag ID which is a unique identification number assigned to the tag.

5. A position detection system according to claim 2, wherein the mobile detector further comprising:

a light emitter emitting light signals, which include direction information, in radial direction; and

a radio wave receiver which receives the receipt signal, wherein

the tag transmits the receipt signal, which includes direction information being included in the light signal, when the tag receives the light signal, and

field intensity of the receipt signal received by the radio wave receiver is used as distance information.

6. A position detection system according to claim 4, wherein the mobile detector further comprising:

a light emitter emitting light signals, which include direction information, in radial direction; and

a radio wave receiver receiving the receipt signal, wherein

the tag transmits the receipt signal, which includes direction information being included in the light signal, when the tag receives the light signal, and

field intensity of the receipt signal received by the radio wave receiver is used as distance information.

7. A position detection system according to claim 6 wherein the light emitter emits the light signal further including a unique identification number assigned to the mobile detector, and

the unique identification number of the mobile detector is added to the receipt signal and is transferred from the tag.

8. A position detection system according to claim 3, wherein the mobile detector transmits radio wave of predetermined wavelength.

9. A position detection system according to claim 3, wherein the base station comprising:

a detector controller controlling the mobile detector which travels throughout the controlled area; and

an object position computing unit receiving object position information and detector position information which are transferred from the mobile detector, and measuring an absolute position within the controlled area of the mobile object.

10. A position detection system according to claim 6, wherein the base station comprising:

a detector controller controlling the mobile detector which travels throughout the controlled area; and

an object position computing unit receiving object position information and detector position information which are transferred from the mobile detector, and measuring an absolute position within the controlled area of the mobile object.

11. A position detection system according to claim 5, wherein the base station comprising:

a detector controller controlling the mobile detector which travels throughout the controlled area; and

an object position computing unit receiving object position information and detector position information which are transferred from the mobile detector, and measuring an absolute position within the controlled area of the mobile object.

12. A position detection system according to claim 10, wherein the base station further comprising:

an ID identification unit performing an identification of the mobile object, by referring to a database based on the tag ID from the mobile detector.

13. A position detection system according to claim 2, wherein the mobile detector is an autonomous bipedal walking robot.

14. A position detection system according to claim 13, wherein the mobile detector further comprising:

a position identification unit identifying the position of the mobile object based on object position information and detector position information; and

a travel controller controlling the travel of the mobile detector to the position identified by the position identification unit.

15. A position detection system according to claim 14, wherein the mobile object is a person with the tag, and

the mobile detector further comprising:

a dialogue controller controlling a dialogue with the person.

16. A position detection system according to claim 15, wherein the mobile detector further comprising:

a personal information acquisition unit obtaining a personal information correlated with the tag ID included in the receipt signal;

a motion determination unit determining a dialogue with the person or a motion of the mobile object, based on the personal information.