Methods and systems for obstacle detection using structured light
US9002511B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 20, 2006 |
| Grant date | Apr 7, 2015 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 11, 2030 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S901/01
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An obstacle detector for a mobile robot while the robot is in motion is disclosed. The detector preferably includes at least one light source configured to project pulsed light in the path of the robot; a visual sensor for capturing a plurality of images of light reflected from the path of the robot; a processing unit configured to extract the reflections from the images; and an obstacle detection unit configured to detect an obstacle in the path of the robot based on the extracted reflections. In the preferred embodiment, the reflections of the projected light are extracted by subtracting pairs of images in which each pair includes a first image captured with the at least one light source on and a second image captured with the at least one light source off, and then combining images of two or more extracted reflections to suppress the background.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.