Self-propelled robot assistant
First Claim
1. A self-propelled robot comprising:
- a base comprising;
a front forward facing a primary forward direction of travel;
drive wheels coupled to the body proximate the front of the base and orthogonal to the primary forward direction of travel; and
at least one drive motor coupled to the drive wheels operable to steer and propel the base across a surface;
a head comprising;
a communication transceiver configured to communicate with a carry sensor that is remote from the robot; and
at least two laterally spaced-apart ultrasonic range finding sensors, wherein the ultrasonic range finding sensors are directionally forward facing passive receivers relative to the primary direction of travel and in a parallel alignment to the drive wheels, the ultrasonic range finding sensors configured to locate and track the carry sensor in two-dimensional space;
a neck connecting the head to the base, the neck movable to space the head away from the base when in an erect position, the neck movable to space the head proximate the base when in a collapsed position;
a container assembly supported between the head and the base; and
a processor in communication with the ultrasonic range finding sensor and the drive motor, the processor configured to, when communication transceiver is in communication with the carry sensor and the ultrasonic range finding sensor receives an ultrasonic signal from the carry sensor, operate the drive motor to maintain the ultrasonic range finding sensors oriented forward facing in the direction of travel toward the carry sensor and maintain a predefined distance between the ultrasonic range finding sensor and the carry sensor.
2 Assignments
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Accused Products
Abstract
A self-propelled robot and method for operating the same are provided. The self-propelled robot includes a base, a drive motor, a communication transceiver, at least two laterally spaced-apart range finding sensors and a processor. The base defines a bottom of a payload receiving space. The drive motor is operable to propel the base across a surface. The communication transceiver is configured to communicate with a carry sensor that is remote from the robot. The range finding sensors are configured to provide range information indicative of a distance between the remote device and the range finding sensors. The processor is configured to, when communication transceiver is in communication with the remote device, operate the drive motor to maintain a predefined distance between the range finding sensor and the carry sensor.
42 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A self-propelled robot comprising:
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a base comprising; a front forward facing a primary forward direction of travel; drive wheels coupled to the body proximate the front of the base and orthogonal to the primary forward direction of travel; and at least one drive motor coupled to the drive wheels operable to steer and propel the base across a surface; a head comprising; a communication transceiver configured to communicate with a carry sensor that is remote from the robot; and at least two laterally spaced-apart ultrasonic range finding sensors, wherein the ultrasonic range finding sensors are directionally forward facing passive receivers relative to the primary direction of travel and in a parallel alignment to the drive wheels, the ultrasonic range finding sensors configured to locate and track the carry sensor in two-dimensional space; a neck connecting the head to the base, the neck movable to space the head away from the base when in an erect position, the neck movable to space the head proximate the base when in a collapsed position; a container assembly supported between the head and the base; and a processor in communication with the ultrasonic range finding sensor and the drive motor, the processor configured to, when communication transceiver is in communication with the carry sensor and the ultrasonic range finding sensor receives an ultrasonic signal from the carry sensor, operate the drive motor to maintain the ultrasonic range finding sensors oriented forward facing in the direction of travel toward the carry sensor and maintain a predefined distance between the ultrasonic range finding sensor and the carry sensor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A self-propelled robot comprising:
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a base comprising; a front which faces a primary forward direction of travel; drive wheels coupled to the body proximate the front of the base and aligned with the primary forward direction of travel; and at least one drive motor coupled to the drive wheels operable to steer and propel the base across a surface; a head having at least two laterally spaced-apart forward facing ultrasonic range finding sensors relative to the primary direction of travel and in a parallel alignment with the drive wheels, the ultrasonic range finding sensors configured to locate and track a carry sensor in two-dimensional space, wherein the ultrasonic range finding sensors are passive receivers and configured to communicate with the carry sensor that is remote from the robot; a neck connecting the head to the base, the neck movable to space the head away from the base when in an erect position, the neck movable to space the head proximate the base when in a collapsed position; at least one drive motor operable to propel the base across a surface; a radio frequency communication transceiver configured to communicate and pair with the carry sensor having an ultrasonic transmitter; a container assembly supported between the head and the base; and a processor in communication with the ultrasonic range finding sensor, the processor configured to, when communication transceiver is paired with the carry sensor and the ultrasonic range finding sensors receives an ultrasonic signal from the carry sensor, operate the drive motor to maintain the ultrasonic range finding sensors oriented forward facing in the direction of travel toward the carry sensor and maintain a predefined distance between the ultrasonic range finding sensor and the carry sensor.
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Specification