Predictive robotic obstacle detection

US11559895B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• inVia Robotics, Inc. · US

Inventors

• Randolph Charles Voorhies · Culver City, US
• Brandon Pennington · Sylvia Park, US
• William Shane Simpson Grant · San Fernando, US
• Joseph Traverso · Simi Valley, US
• Lior Elazary · Craydon Court, US
• Daniel Frank Parks, II · Los Angeles, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Oct 8, 2021
• Grant date: Jan 24, 2023
• Expiry date: Oct 8, 2041

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B25J5/007
• WIPO field: Control
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

Provided are systems and methods by which robots predictively detect objects that may obstruct robotic tasks prior to the robots performing those tasks. For instance, a robot may receive a task, and may obtain dimensions of a task object based on a first identifier obtained with the task or with a sensor of the robot. The robot may determine a first boundary for moving the task object based on the task object dimensions and an added buffer of space that accounts for imprecise robotic operation. The robot may detect a second identifier of a neighboring object, and may obtain dimensions of the neighboring object using the second identifier. The robot may compute a second boundary of the neighboring object based on the dimensions of the neighboring object and a position of the second identifier, and may detect an obstruction based on the second boundary crossing into the first boundary.