Positive and negative obstacle avoidance system and method for a mobile robot
US8688275B1 · kind B1 · utility
35Cited by
30References
26Claims
0Family size
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 25, 2013 |
| Grant date | Apr 1, 2014 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 25, 2033 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S901/50
- WIPO fieldControl
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
Embodiments of the present invention provide methods and systems for ensuring that mobile robots are able to detect and avoid positive obstacles in a physical environment that are typically hard to detect because the obstacles do not exist in the same plane or planes as the mobile robot's horizontally-oriented obstacle detecting lasers. Embodiments of the present invention also help to ensure that mobile robots are able to detect and avoid driving into negative obstacles, such as gaps or holes in the floor, or a flight of stairs. Thus, the invention provides positive and negative obstacle avoidance systems for mobile robots.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.