DOMESTIC ROBOTIC SYSTEM AND METHOD

摘要

A domestic robotic system including a robot having a payload for carrying out a domestic task within a working area. The robot also includes a plurality of sensors, including one or more local environment sensors that are configured to receive signals from exterior sources local to the robot. The system further includes data storage, which is operable to store boundary information that defines the path of a predetermined boundary within which the robot is permitted to move. The robot is programmed to operate in at a reference trail recording mode and a navigation mode. In the reference trail recording mode, the robot moves along a reference trail while receiving sensor information from its sensors, with the path of the reference trail being calculated by the system based on the stored boundary information so as to be spaced apart from the path of the predetermined boundary. Also in the reference trail recording mode, the system stores reference trail information corresponding to a first plurality of points along the reference trail. This reference trail information is derived from the sensor information corresponding to the first plurality of points. In the navigation mode, the robot moves within the working area and navigates by: receiving current sensor information from its sensors; and, when it is in the vicinity of the reference trail, comparing the current sensor information with the reference trail information in order to determine its current position.

主权项

1. A domestic robotic system comprising:
a robot comprising: a payload for carrying out a domestic task within a working area and a plurality of sensors, including one or more local environment sensors that are configured to receive signals from exterior sources local to the robot; at least one processor, and, data storage, operable to store boundary information that defines the path of a predetermined boundary within which the robot is permitted to move; the at least one processor of the robot being programmed to operate in at least the following two modes:(i) a reference trail recording mode, wherein:
the at least one processor causes the robot to move along a reference trail while receiving sensor information from said sensors, the path of said reference trail being calculated by the at least one processor based on said boundary information stored in said data storage, so as to be spaced apart from the path of said predetermined boundary; and, storing reference trail information corresponding to the recorded reference trail in the storage media, said reference trail information being derived from said sensor information;(ii) a navigation mode, wherein the at least one processor causes the robot to move within the working area, the at least one processor controlling the navigation by:
receiving current sensor information from said sensors; and, when in the vicinity of said reference trail, comparing said current sensor information with said stored reference trail information in order to determine the current position of the robot.