Patent · US Expired

Method and apparatus for allowing mobile robot to return to docking station

US7546179B2 · kind B2 · utility

4Cited by
15References
27Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateApr 14, 2004
Grant dateJun 9, 2009
Priority date
Expiry dateFeb 23, 2026

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG05D1/0255
  • WIPO fieldControl
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A method and apparatus allowing a mobile robot to return to a designated location the method including: calculating a first direction angle of the mobile robot at a second location arrived at after the mobile robot travels a predetermined distance from the first location; determining whether the mobile robot approaches or moves away from the designated location, at a third location arrived at after the mobile robot rotates by the first direction angle and then travels a predetermined distance; and if the result of the determination indicates that the mobile robot approaches the docking station, controlling the mobile robot to travel according to the first direction angle, and if the result indicates the mobile robot moves away from the docking station, calculating a second direction angle of the mobile robot at the third location, and controlling the mobile robot to travel according to the second direction angle.

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