US 11,861,957 B2 · Time master and sensor data collection for robotic system

Abstract

A time master and sensor data collection module for a robotic system such as an autonomous vehicle is disclosed. The module includes a processing device, one or more sensors, and programming instructions that are configured to cause the processing device to operate as a timer that generates a vehicle time, receive data from the one or more sensors contained within the housing, and synchronize the data from the one or more sensors contained within the housing with the vehicle time. The integrated sensors may include sensors such as a global positioning system (GPS) unit and/or an inertial measurement unit (IMU). The module may interface with external sensors such as a LiDAR system and/or cameras.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A time master and sensor data collection system for a robotic device, the system comprising:

a housing;
a processing device contained in the housing;
and
one or more sensors contained within the housing and communicatively connected to the processing device, the one or more sensors comprising at least an inertial measurement unit (IMU) and a global positioning system (GPS) sensor;
and
programming instructions that are configured to cause the processing device to:
operate as a timer that generates a vehicle time without reliance on one or more other time systems,
receive data from the one or more sensors contained within the housing, and
synchronize the data from the one or more sensors contained within the housing with the vehicle time by associating timestamps for the vehicle time with data received from the one or more sensors.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Time master and sensor data collection for robotic system

Life of this patent

Time master and sensor data collection for robotic system

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20