Sensor assembly and method of operating a vehicle with the sensor assembly

An assembly, comprising:

• a body including a base portion spaced from an upper portion;
• a sensor portion separating the upper portion from the base portion, wherein the sensor portion includes at least one lidar sensor located between the base portion and the upper portion with a support structure circumferentially spaced around the at least one lidar sensor and configured to engage the base portion and the upper portion;
• a controller in electrical communication with the at least one lidar sensor, wherein the controller is configured to:
• direct the at least one lidar sensor to emit light in a 360 degree pattern;
• and
• identify an object surrounding the assembly based on the emitted light reflecting off the object.

A method of operating an autonomous mobile robot, the method comprising:

• emitting light from at least one lidar sensor on the autonomous mobile robot in a 360 degree pattern, wherein the autonomous mobile robot includes:
• a body including a base portion spaced from an upper portion;
• a sensor portion separating the upper portion from the base portion, wherein the sensor portion includes at least one lidar sensor located between the base portion and the upper portion with a support structure circumferentially spaced around the at least one lidar sensor and configured to engage the base portion and the upper portion;
• a drive unit including a drive motor in driving engagement with a plurality of drive wheels that are configured to engage a support surface;
• and
• a plurality of guide wheels rotatably attached to the base portion for supporting the autonomous mobile robot along the support surface;
• identifying an object surrounding the autonomous mobile robot based on the emitted light reflecting off the object;
• and
• directing the autonomous mobile robot with the drive unit to follow a path based on the object identified by the at least one lidar sensor.