Systems and methods for operating a mobile robot

A method of operating a mobile robot having a processor and a plurality of sensors mounted thereon, the method comprising,

• operating the mobile robot to autonomously navigate along a trajectory;
• and
• while the mobile robot autonomously navigates along the trajectory, operating the processor to,
• monitor an angular velocity and a linear velocity of the mobile robot during operation;
• while the mobile robot is in operation, continuously determine one or more critical sensor regions defined with reference to the mobile robot based at least on the angular velocity and the linear velocity of the mobile robot, each critical sensor region comprising a primary critical sensor region extending from a body of the mobile robot, and a secondary critical sensor region extending from and adjacent to the primary critical sensor region;
• define the secondary critical sensor region based at least on an upper velocity range of the mobile robot and
• adapt the operation of the plurality of sensors to prioritize capture of sensor data within the one or more critical sensor regions, each sensor being operable to capture the sensor data for an adjustable detection region defined with respect to the sensor and the mobile robot.

A system for operating a mobile robot, the system comprising:

• a plurality sensors mounted on the mobile robot, each sensor being operable to capture sensor data for an adjustable detection region defined with respect to the sensor and the mobile robot;
• and
• a processor operable to:
• autonomously navigate the mobile robot along a trajectory;
• and
• while the mobile robot autonomously navigates along the trajectory:
• monitor an angular velocity and a linear velocity of the mobile robot during operation:
• while the mobile robot is in operation, continuously determine one or more critical sensor regions defined with reference to the mobile robot based at least on the angular velocity and the linear velocity of the mobile robot, each critical sensor region comprising a primary critical sensor region extending from a body of the mobile robot, and a secondary critical sensor region extending from and adjacent to the primary critical sensor region, wherein the processor comprises a robot processor operable to adjust the trajectory of the mobile robot when an object is detected within the secondary critical sensor region, and a safety processor operable to terminate operation of the mobile robot when the object is detected within the first critical sensor region;
• and
• adapt the operation of the plurality of sensors to prioritize capture of sensor data within the one or more critical sensor regions.