Systems for determining location using robots with deformable sensors

A robot for determining a location within a space, the robot comprising:

• a casing;
• at least one deformable sensor provided on the casing, the deformable sensor comprising an internal sensor and a deformable membrane, the internal sensor configured to output a deformation region within the deformable membrane as a result of contact with a first object;
• one or more processors;
• and
• one or more memory modules comprising non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer-readable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to:
• receive data from the internal sensor representing the deformation region of the deformable membrane when the first object is contacted;
• identify the first object as a first identified object;
• and
• determine a location of the robot based on a known location of the first identified object.

A system for determining a location of a robot including a deformable sensor, the system comprising:

• a robot;
• at least one deformable sensor provided on the robot, the at least one deformable sensor comprising a housing, a deformable membrane coupled to the housing, an enclosure configured to be filled with a medium, and an internal sensor disposed within the housing and having a field of view configured to be directed through the medium and toward a surface of the deformable membrane, wherein the internal sensor is configured to output a deformation region within the deformable membrane as a result of contact with a first object;
• one or more processors;
• and
• one or more memory modules comprising non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer-readable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to:
• receive data from the internal sensor representing the deformation region when the first object is contacted;
• identify the first object as a first identified object;
• and
• determine a location of the robot based on a known location of the first identified object.