Adaptive safety systems for autonomous mobile robots
AssigneeAmazon Technologies, Inc.
InventorsStephen Charles Paschall, Justin Croyle
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) having adaptive safety systems may operate individually or as part of a convoy. During individual operations, an AMR may determine a safety zone and stop responsive to detecting an object within the safety zone. During convoy operations, an AMR may selectively mute a portion of the safety zone and allow a forward AMR of a convoy within the portion of the safety zone. In this manner, the adaptive safety systems may enable convoy operations of multiple AMRs with relatively greater density and greater speed, thereby improving speed and efficiency of AMR operations without negatively impacting safety.
Claims19
A method to operate autonomous mobile robots (AMRs), comprising:
- receiving, by a first AMR from a control system, an instruction to operate as a leader AMR of a convoy;
- receiving, by a second AMR from the control system, an instruction to operate as a follower AMR of the convoy;
- detecting, by a sensor of the second AMR, an identifier associated with another AMR;
- determining, by a controller of the second AMR, that the detected identifier corresponds to an identifier associated with the first AMR;
- muting, by the controller of the second AMR, at least a portion of a safety zone directly in front of and along a forward movement direction of the second AMR, wherein muting the at least a portion of the safety zone comprises permitting a portion of the first AMR within the safety zone;
- and
- adjusting, by the controller of the second AMR, at least one movement characteristic of the second AMR to operate as the convoy with the first AMR;
- wherein the portion of the first AMR is positioned within the muted portion of the safety zone directly in front of and along the forward movement direction of the second AMR.
An autonomous mobile robot (AMR), comprising:
- a navigation system;
- a safety system in communication with the navigation system, the safety system comprising at least one sensor configured to detect objects within a safety zone of the AMR;
- and
- a controller configured to at least:
- detect, via the at least one sensor, an identifier of another AMR;
- determine that the detected identifier is an identifier associated with a forward AMR;
- mute a portion of the safety zone directly in front of and along a forward movement direction of the AMR, wherein muting the portion of the safety zone comprises permitting at least a portion of the forward AMR within the portion of the safety zone;
- and
- adjust, via the navigation system, at least one movement characteristic of the AMR to convoy with the forward AMR;
- wherein at least the portion of the forward AMR is positioned within the muted portion of the safety zone directly in front of and along the forward movement direction of the AMR.
A method to operate an autonomous mobile robot (AMR), comprising:
- receiving, by a controller of the AMR, an instruction to form a convoy with a forward AMR;
- adjusting, by the controller and via a navigation system of the AMR, at least one movement characteristic of the AMR to form the convoy with the forward AMR;
- detecting, by a safety system of the AMR, an identifier associated with the forward AMR;
- muting, by the controller of the AMR, a portion of a safety zone directly in front of and along a forward movement direction of the AMR based on the detected identifier, wherein muting the portion of the safety zone comprises permitting at least a portion of the forward AMR within the portion of the safety zone;
- and
- adjusting, by the controller and via the navigation system of the AMR, at least one movement characteristic of the AMR to operate as the convoy with the forward AMR;
- wherein at least the portion of the forward AMR is positioned within the muted portion of the safety zone directly in front of and along the forward movement direction of the AMR.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.