Time-dependent navigation of telepresence robots

US9785149B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignees

• INTOUCH TECHNOLOGIES, INC. · US
• iRobot Corporation · US

Inventors

• Yulun Wang · Midland School, US
• Charles S. Jordan · Lompoc, US
• Tim Wright · Montgomeryville, US
• Michael Chan · Lompoc, US
• Marco Pinter · Lompoc, US
• Kevin Hanrahan · Lompoc, US
• Daniel Steven Sanchez · Summerland, US
• James Ballantyne · Lompoc, US
• Cody Herzog · Lompoc, US
• Blair Whitney · Midland School, US
• Fuji Lai · Goleta, US
• Kelton Temby · Goleta, US
• Eben Christopher Rauhut · Watertown, US
• Justin H. Kearns · Somerville, US
• Cheuk Wah Wong · Bedford, US
• Timothy S. Farlow · Needham, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Apr 26, 2016
• Grant date: Oct 10, 2017
• Expiry date: Apr 26, 2036

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G05D1/024
• WIPO field: Control
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A telepresence robot may include a drive system, a control system, an imaging system, and a mapping module. The mapping module may access a map of an area and tags associated with the area. In various embodiments, each tag may include tag coordinates and tag information, which may include a tag annotation. A tag identification system may identify tags within a predetermined range of the current position and the control system may execute an action based on an identified tag whose tag information comprises a telepresence robot action modifier. The telepresence robot may rotate an upper portion independent from a lower portion. A remote terminal may allow an operator to control the telepresence robot using any combination of control methods, including by selecting a destination in a live video feed, by selecting a destination on a map, or by using a joystick or other peripheral device.