Tandem robot control system and method for controlling mobile robots in tandem
AssigneeSandia Corporation
InventorsDavid R. Hayward, James H. Buttz, David L. Shirey
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A control system for controlling mobile robots provides a way to control mobile robots, connected in tandem with coupling devices, to navigate across difficult terrain or in closed spaces. The mobile robots can be controlled cooperatively as a coupled system in linked mode or controlled individually as separate robots.
Claims24
A control system for controlling tandem mobile robots, comprising:
- a) a control unit, comprising:
- i) an input-output system, adapted to receive input from an operator and generate tandem robot commands;
- and
- ii) a communication system, adapted to transmit the tandem robot commands to the tandem mobile robots;
- and
- b) a power source, connected to power the control unit.
A control system for controlling tandem mobile robots, wherein each robot comprises a robot data transceiver and a robot video unit, wherein the control system comprises:
- a) an input-output system, adapted to be carried by an operator, comprising:
- i) a motion command device, generating robot commands proportionally responsive to operator input;
- and
- ii) a mode selector, adapted to receive mode-input from the operator and modify operation of the control system;
- b) a control unit data transceiver, capable of bi-directional communication with the robot data transceiver, and adapted to be carried by the operator;
- c) a video receiver, responsive to the robot video unit;
- d) a personal video display apparatus, adapted to be worn by the operator and responsive to the video receiver;
- e) a microprocessor, responsive to the input-output system and responsive to the control unit data transceiver, and adapted to be carried by the operator;
- and
- f) a power source, adapted to be carried by the operator, wherein the portable power unit powers the control system.
A method for controlling two or more robots in tandem, using a control unit for controlling input-output of at least one of the robots, each robot connectable by a coupling to another robot and operated synergistically as cooperating units, the method comprising the steps of:
- a) generating tandem robot commands from the control unit to one or more robots;
- b) transmitting tandem robot commands to the robots on a communication unit;
- and
- c) carrying out the tandem robot commands for one or more robots;
- d) wherein the control unit comprises the communication unit.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.