Patent · US Expired

Robot obstacle detection system

US6594844B2 · kind B2 · utility

435Cited by
19References
20Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateJan 24, 2001
Grant dateJul 22, 2003
Priority date
Expiry dateSep 1, 2021

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG05D1/024
  • WIPO fieldControl
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A robot obstacle detection system including a robot housing which navigates with respect to a surface and a sensor subsystem having a defined relationship with respect to the housing and aimed at the surface for detecting the surface. The sensor subsystem includes an optical emitter which emits a directed beam having a defined field of emission and a photon detector having a defined field of view which intersects the field of emission of the emitter at a region. A circuit in communication with a detector redirects the robot when the surface does not occupy the region to avoid obstacles. A similar system is employed to detect walls.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.