Clutter-clearing robotic system
AssigneeClutterbot, Inc.
InventorsJustin David Hamilton, Kalen Fletcher Wolfe, Jack Alexander Bannister-Sutton, Bryden James Frizzell
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A robot is operated to navigate an environment using cameras and map the type, size and location of objects. The system determines the type, size and location of objects and classifies the objects for association with specific containers. For each category of object with a corresponding container, the robot chooses a specific object to pick up in that category, performs path planning and navigates to objects of the category, to either organize or pick up the objects. Actuated pusher arms move other objects out of the way and manipulates the target object onto the front bucket to be carried.
Claims20
A method comprising:
- associating each of a plurality of object categories for objects in an environment with corresponding containers situated in the environment;
- activating a robot at a base station;
- navigating the robot around the environment using cameras to map a type, a size, and a location of the objects in the environment;
- for each object category:
- choosing one or more of the objects to pick up in the category;
- performing path planning to the one or more of the objects to pick up;
- navigating to points adjacent to each of the one or more of the objects to pick up;
- actuating manipulators coupled at both sides of a front end of a bucket at a front end of the robot, wherein the manipulators are coupled to open and close across the front end of the bucket to move obstacles out of the way and manipulate the one or more of the objects to pick up onto the bucket;
- one or both of tilting and raising the bucket, and actuating the manipulators to retain the objects in the bucket;
- navigating the robot adjacent to the corresponding container for the category;
- aligning a back end of the robot with a side of the corresponding container;
- and
- one or both of tilting and raising the bucket along a path that is an arc from the front end of the robot to the back end of the robot above a chassis of the robot to deposit retained objects in the corresponding container.
A robotic system comprising:
- a robot;
- a base station;
- a plurality of corresponding containers each associated with one or more object categories for objects in an environment;
- a mobile application;
- and
- robotic control system logic configured to:
- navigate the robot around the environment using cameras to map a type, a size, and a location of the objects in the environment;
- for each object category:
- choose one or more of the objects to pick up in the category;
- perform path planning to the one or more of the objects to pick up;
- navigate to points adjacent to each of the one or more of the objects to pick up;
- actuate manipulators coupled at both sides of a front end of a bucket at a front end of the robot, wherein the manipulators are coupled to open and close across the front end of the bucket to move obstacles out of the way and manipulate the one or more of the objects to pick up onto the bucket;
- one or both of tilt and raise the bucket, and actuate the manipulators to retain the one or more of the objects to pick up in the bucket;
- navigate the robot adjacent to the corresponding container for the category;
- align a back end of the robot with a side of the corresponding container;
- and
- one or both of tilt and raise the bucket along a path that is an arc from the front end of the robot to the back end of the robot above a chassis of the robot to deposit retained objects in the corresponding container.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.