US 9,789,612 B2Granted

Remotely operating a mobile robot

AssigneeIrobot Defense Holdings, Inc.

InventorsOrin P. F. Hoffman, Peter Keefe, Eric Smith, John Wang, Andrew Labrecque, Brett Ponsler, Susan Macchia, Brian J. Madge

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

patentgrep

Loading patent…

Abstract

A method of operating a robot includes electronically receiving images and augmenting the images by overlaying a representation of the robot on the images. The robot representation includes user-selectable portions. The method includes electronically displaying the augmented images and receiving an indication of a selection of at least one user-selectable portion of the robot representation. The method also includes electronically displaying an intent to command the selected at least one user-selectable portion of the robot representation, receiving an input representative of a user interaction with at least one user-selectable portion, and issuing a command to the robot based on the user interaction.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A method for controlling a plurality of different robots by an operator control unit, the method comprising:

for each robot of the plurality of different robots:
receiving, over a wireless communications connection with the robot, a video feed from an imaging device disposed on the robot;
displaying the video feed in a graphical user interface on a touchscreen display of the operator control unit;
augmenting the video feed as displayed on the touchscreen display by overlaying a representation of the robot on the video feed as displayed on the touchscreen display;
receiving a first touchscreen input selecting, on the touchscreen display, the representation of the robot on the video feed and, in response, altering the graphical user interface on the touchscreen display of the operator control unit;
after altering the graphical user interface, receiving a second touchscreen input and determining at least one movement parameter of the robot based on the second touchscreen input;
and
issuing, over the wireless communications connection, a command to the robot based on the at least one movement parameter.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 15/457,671Filed 13 Mar 2017 · continuation
Priority: 7 Jan 2014
Published: US 2017/0217021 A13 Aug 2017
Granted: 17 Oct 2017
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification19 codes

B25J 13/006
Controls for manipulators: by means of a wireless system for controlling one or several manipulators
B25J 5/005
Manipulators mounted on wheels or on carriages: mounted on endless tracks or belts
B25J 5/007
Manipulators mounted on wheels or on carriages: mounted on wheels
B25J 9/161
Characterised by the control system, structure, architecture: hardware, e.g. neural networks, fuzzy logic, interfaces, processor

Family

Application61/924,433Us provisional application · filed 7 Jan 2014
Application14/507,653Parent of this division · filed 6 Oct 2014
Application15/069,523Parent of this continuation · filed 14 Mar 2016
US 9,283,674 B2Parent of this division · filed 15 Mar 2016
US 2017/0217021 A1Pre-grant publication · published 3 Aug 2017
US 9,592,604 B2Parent of this continuation
Application15/069,523Parent of this division
US 2015/0190925 A1Published application
US 2016/0243698 A1Published application
US 9,789,612 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.