Beach cleaning autonomous all-terrain vehicle system and method
AssigneeHonda Motor Co., Ltd.
InventorsJason W. GRUNDEY, Richard M. LOWERY, JR., Naoki MURASAWA
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system and method for cleaning a beach includes a master autonomous vehicle that includes a controller, a camera, a GPS unit, a ranging unit, and a wireless communication unit. The system further includes at least one client autonomous vehicle in wireless communication with and operated by the controller of the master autonomous vehicle and a plurality of beach cleaners attached to the autonomous vehicles. The autonomous vehicles may detect and avoid obstacles on the beach being cleaned and each other.
Claims20
A system for cleaning a beach, comprising:
- a master autonomous vehicle, the master autonomous vehicle comprising:
- a controller for operating the master autonomous vehicle;
- a camera in communication with the controller for supplying image data to the controller;
- a global positioning satellite unit for determining a position of the master autonomous vehicle;
- a ranging unit for determining a distance to an obstacle from the master autonomous vehicle in communication with the controller;
- and
- a wireless communication unit;
- at least one client autonomous vehicle, the client autonomous vehicle in wireless communication with and operated by the controller of the master autonomous vehicle;
- and
- a plurality of beach cleaners, one of the plurality of beach cleaners each being attached to the master autonomous vehicle and the client autonomous vehicle.
A method of cleaning a beach comprising the steps of:
- providing a master autonomous vehicle equipped with a controller, a camera in communication with the controller, a global positioning satellite unit, a ranging unit, a wireless communication unit, and a beach cleaner attached to the master autonomous vehicle;
- providing at least one client autonomous vehicle in wireless communication with the master autonomous vehicle and equipped with a client controller, a camera in communication with the client controller, a global positioning satellite unit, a ranging unit, a wireless communication unit, and a beach cleaner attached to the at least one client autonomous vehicle;
- detecting an obstacle in front of one of the master autonomous vehicle and the at least one client autonomous vehicle using the cameras and ranging units;
- adjusting a master route of the master autonomous vehicle to avoid the obstacle;
- and
- returning the master autonomous vehicle to the master route when the master autonomous vehicle has passed the obstacle.
A method of cleaning a beach comprising the steps of:
- providing a master autonomous vehicle equipped with a controller, a camera in communication with the controller, a global positioning satellite unit, a ranging unit, a wireless communication unit, and a beach cleaner attached to the master autonomous vehicle;
- selecting a cleaning route for the master autonomous vehicle using the global positioning satellite unit of the master autonomous vehicle;
- and
- cleaning the beach along the cleaning route.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.