System, apparatus, and method for managing and controlling robot competitions

• US 7,330,776 B1
• Filed: 03/05/2007
• Issued: 02/12/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Innovation First Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Innovation First Incorporated
• Inventors: Mimlitch, Robert H. III, Norman, David A., Adams, Paul S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Black; Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): Marc; McDieunel
• Application Number:
  US11/682,244
• Time in Patent Office: 344 Days
• Field of Search: 700/245, 700/247, 700/248, 700/260, 700/261, 700/262, 700/264, 318/568.1, 318/568.12, 318/568.15
• US Class Current: 700/245
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 11/00 Self-movable toy figures
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 2200/00 Computerized interactive toys, e.g. dolls
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 30/04 using wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0022 characterised by the communication link data switching networks in general H04L12/00
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0287 involving a plurality of land vehicles, e.g. fleet or convoy travelling traffic control systems for road vehicles G08G1/00, particularly anticollision systems G08G1/16

Abstract

A system and method for operating robots in a robot competition. One embodiment of the system may include operator interfaces, where each operator interface is operable to control movement of a respective robot. A respective operator interface may be in communication with an associated operator radio, where each radio may have a low power RF output signal. A robot controller may be coupled to each robot in the robot competition. A robot radio may be coupled to a respective robot and in communication with a respective robot controller and operator radio. The robot radios may have a low power RF output signal while communicating with the respective operator radios. Alternatively, the radios may be short range radios, where a distance of communication may be a maximum of approximately 500 feet.

Claims

1. A method for verifying data integrity communicated between an operator interface and a remote control device, wherein the operator interface and the remote control device include associated device numbers, the method comprising:

communicating a signal on a channel between the operator interface and the remote control device, the signal including a device number, a channel number, and a checksum;

receiving the signal including the device number, the channel number, and the checksum;

verifying the checksum to confirm integrity of the signal;

determining if the channel and the channel number match; and

determining if the transmitted device number corresponds to the device number of the remote control device.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

determining if data integrity is invalid; and

utilizing, by the remote control device, a last set of valid data, if the data integrity is invalid.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

determining if data integrity is invalid; and

disabling the remote control device, if the data integrity is invalid.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the remote control device comprises a robot.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein determining of the channel occurs during a robot competition.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein each of the device number, the channel number, and the checksum are transmitted in a single data packet.

7. A system for verifying data integrity communicated between an operator interface and a remote control device, wherein the operator interface and the remote control device include associated device numbers, the method comprising:

means for communicating a signal on a channel between the operator interface and the remote control device, the signal including a device number, a channel number, and a checksum;

means for receiving the signal including the device number, the channel number, and the checksum;

means for verifying the checksum to confirm integrity of the signal;

means for determining if the channel and the channel number match; and

means for determining if the transmitted device number corresponds to the device number of the remote control device.

8. The system according to claim 7, further comprising:

means for determining if data integrity is invalid; and

means for utilizing, by the remote control device, a last set of valid data.

9. The system according to claim 7, further comprising:

means for determining if data integrity is invalid; and

means for disabling the remote control device.

10. The system according to claim 7, wherein the remote control device comprises a robot.

11. The system according to claim 7, wherein determining of the channel occurs during a robot competition.

12. The system according to claim 7, wherein each of the device number, the channel number, and the checksum are transmitted in a single data packet.

13. The system of claim 7 further comprising

means for assigning the channel to the operator interface;

means for transmitting the signal on a first channel; and

means for selecting, by the means for communicating a signal, a second channel to receive the signal.