Method and system for regulating movement of an entity between zones

US8886382B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• The University of Sydney · AU

Inventors

• Eric Nettleton · Hawker, AU
• Ross Hennessy · Gosford, AU
• Hugh Durrant-Whyte · Sydney, AU
• Ali Haydar Göktogan · Chatswood, AU
• Surya P. N. Singh · Sydney, AU
• Guralawela Ekanayake Mudiyanselage Dharmapriya Cha Bandara · Jerramungup, AU

Key dates

• Filing date: Apr 30, 2010
• Grant date: Nov 11, 2014
• Expiry date: Jun 12, 2030

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G05D1/0297
• WIPO field: Control
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A method is described of regulating movement of an autonomous entity between a first zone (904) and a second zone (901), wherein the first and second zones each have an operation-defined geographical boundary within a defined geographical region. The autonomous entity is instructed to move into a transition zone (906, 907) that spans the first zone and the second zone, wherein the autonomous entity while located in the first zone is responsive to supervisory control of a first controller (912) associated with the first zone. The autonomous entity is registered with a second controller (910) associated with the second zone to enable the autonomous entity to respond to supervisory control of the second controller as the autonomous entity enters the second zone through the transition zone. The autonomous entity is de-registered from the first controller.