Method and apparatus for intelligent highway traffic control devices
AssigneeBoard of Regents of the University of Nebraska
InventorsShane Farritor, Xiangrong Shen, Jason Dumpert
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Abstract
A method and system is disclosed for the deployment, reconfiguration and retrieval of robotic highway safety markers. The system includes one or more robotic safety markers, a base station or lead robot having a range-finder module for robotic safety marker localization, a communication module for master-slave communication with each robotic safety marker and means for path planning for the robotic safety markers. The system is controlled by a hierarchical control system having both global and local control.
Claims24
A robotic highway safety marker system comprising:
- (a) a base station having means for localization, a communication module and means for path planning;
- (b) one or more robotic safety markers, each robotic safety marker comprising a motorized set of wheels, and a safety marker communication module;
- (c) whereby the base station locates each safety marker and communicates a marker specific wireless signal to each safety marker to control a path of the safety marker.
A method for controlling one or more robotic highway safety markers from a base station comprising the steps of:
- (a) localizing each of the one or more robotic highway markers;
- (b) inputting a final position for each of the one or more robotic highway markers;
- (c) planning a path for each of the one or more robotic safety highway markers;
- (d) sending a command consisting of a waypoint to a first robotic safety marker from the base station;
- and
- (e) executing the movement for the first robotic safety marker to the way point.
A method for controlling one or more robotic highway safety markers from a lead station comprising the steps of:
- (a) localizing each of the one or more robotic highway markers;
- (b) assigning a virtual destination for each robotic highway safety marker;
- (c) defining a trajectory between each robotic highway safety marker and the virtual destination corresponding to the highway safety marker;
- (d) updating this trajectory in real time as the lead station moves;
- and
- (e) communicating data related to the Bezier trajectory and the velocity of the lead station from the lead station to each robotic highway safety marker.
A robotic safety marker system comprising:
- (a) one or more follower safety markers, each robotic safety marker comprising a motorized set of wheels, a compass module, and a safety marker communication module;
- (b) an intelligent lead station having a processor, a means for localization of each of the one or more robotic safety markers, a communication module for master-slave communication with each of the robotic safety markers and means for path planning;
- and
- (c) whereby the lead station localizes each follower safety marker and communicates a command to each safety marker to control a path of the safety marker such that each of the one or more follower safety markers follow the lead station along a path.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.