US 12,001,219 B2 · Detecting objects near an autonomous device

Abstract

An example autonomous device is configured to detect objects within a vicinity of the autonomous device. The autonomous device is configured to move along a surface. The autonomous device includes a body, at least one long-range sensor on the body configured for detection in a first field, and at least one short-range sensor on the body. Each short-range sensor is configured for detection in a second field directed towards the surface. The second field is smaller than the first field. Each short-range sensor is configured to output signals based on detection of an object within the second field. A control system is configured to control movement of the autonomous device based, at least in part, on the signals.

Claims18

Dependent claims

An autonomous device comprising:

a body for supporting weight of an object;
wheels on the body to enable the body to travel across a surface;
a camera on the body to obtain images in front of the autonomous device, the camera having first field that extends from the body;
and
sensors disposed along at least part of a perimeter of the body and having a second field, the sensors being angled at least partly toward the surface so that the second field extends at least partly from the surface to at least a location below the first field, wherein the body comprises one or more corners, at least one of the corners being defined by edges that support a group of the sensors, the group of sensors having fields that overlap at least in part such that, for the at least one corner, there are no blind spots for the autonomous device in a partial circumference of a circle centered at the at least one corner.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Detecting objects near an autonomous device

Life of this patent

Detecting objects near an autonomous device

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims18