Mobile robot and method of controlling the same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2019163175-A1
Application number	US-201816205468-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Nov 30, 2018
Priority date	Nov 30, 2017
Publication date	May 30, 2019
Grant date	—

Abstract

A mobile robot may include a plurality of position information transmitters installed in an area to transmit signals for determining position information, a terminal configured to analyze the signals received from the position information transmitters and a mobile robot configured to receive the signals from the position information transmitters to determine the position information, and to set a boundary in the area based on the position information, wherein the terminal evaluates an installation position of the position information transmitters by analyzing the signals received from the position information transmitters. Accordingly, even when a work area is reduced or enlarged, a position information transmitter may be further provided, such that a boundary may be reset easily for an enlarged area. And by evaluating an installation position for the position information transmitter in an area, a position that facilitates signal transmission and reception may be determined for installation, thereby preventing a problem that an obstacle interrupts signal reception, and position information may be confirmed easily, thereby improving accuracy of positions.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A mobile robot system, comprising:
a plurality of position information transmitters provided at an area to transmit signals for providing position information; a mobile robot configured to receive the signals from the position information transmitters, and to set a boundary at the area based on the position information; and a terminal configured to evaluate positions of the position information transmitters by analyzing the signals from the position information transmitters, wherein the mobile robot is configured to:
determine a current position by analyzing the signals from the position information transmitters, and
perform a predetermined operation while the mobile robot is moving within a traveling area formed based on the boundary and without the mobile robot moving outside the boundary.

2 . The mobile robot system of claim 1 , wherein in response to the mobile robot not receiving at least two of the signals from the position information transmitters, the mobile robot is to store information regarding a signal reception state, and to output a warning.

3 . The mobile robot system of claim 2 , wherein the mobile robot is to determine a current position based on the received signals and a moving distance from previously determined positions, and the mobile robot is to store information regarding the determined current position.

4 . The mobile robot system of claim 2 , wherein based on the signal reception state of the signals received at a predetermined point at the area, the terminal is to determine whether to provide another position information transmitter.

5 . The mobile robot system of claim 2 , wherein based on the stored information regarding the signal reception state, the terminal is to determine whether to provide another position information transmitter.

6 . The mobile robot system of claim 1 , wherein based on a signal received from another position information transmitter, the terminal is to determine an installation position of a previously provided position information transmitter.

7 . The mobile robot system of claim 1 , in response to a new position information transmitter to be provided at the area, the terminal is to evaluate an installation position of the new position information transmitter by analyzing the signal from a previously provided position information transmitter.

8 . The mobile robot system of claim 7 , wherein the terminal is configured to:
analyze the signal from the previously provided position information transmitter, and determine whether the installation position is suitable for the new position information transmitter based on a number of received signals and intensity of the signals; and display, on a screen, a result of signal reception sensitivity at the installation position of the new position information transmitter.

9 . The mobile robot system of claim 7 , wherein the terminal is configured to set and display an installation candidate position, which is located within a predetermined distance from the installation position, and the installation candidate is to have a high sensitivity of signal reception.

10 . The mobile robot system of claim 8 , wherein in response to determining to provide the new position information transmitter at the installation position, the terminal is to determine position information based on signals of other position information transmitters, and the terminal to register the installation position as a position of the new position information transmitter.

11 . The mobile robot system of claim 1 , wherein at least three position information transmitters are provided at the area, and the position information transmitter is provided based on a size of the area or an obstacle in the area.

12 . The mobile robot system of claim 1 , wherein the position information transmitters are to transmit any one of a Ultra Wide Band (UWB) signal, an ultrasonic wave signal, and an infrared signal.

13 . A method of controlling a mobile robot system, the method comprising:
receiving, at a mobile robot, signals from a plurality of position information transmitters provided at an area; determining position information based on the signals received from the position information transmitters while the mobile robot is moving at the area, and the mobile robot is to set a boundary at the area based on the determined position information; determining a current position based on the signals received from the position information transmitters and a reference position at the area; and the mobile robot performing a predetermined operation while the mobile robot is moving within a traveling area formed based on the boundary and such that the current position is not outside the boundary.

14 . The method of claim 13 , comprising:
in response to the mobile robot not receiving at least two of the signals from the position information transmitters, storing information regarding a signal reception state; and outputting, from the mobile robot, a warning regarding the signal reception state.

15 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising:
determining, by the mobile robot, a current position based on the received signals and a moving distance from previously determined positions, and storing information regarding the determined current position; and analyzing, by a terminal, the signals from the position information transmitters based on the stored signal reception state.

16 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising:
determining, by a terminal, whether to provide a new position information transmitter; upon determining to provide the new position information transmitter, receiving a signal of another position information transmitter at an installation position of the new position information transmitter; and analyzing signal sensitivity of the received signal to evaluate the installation position of the new position information transmitter.

17 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising:
setting, by a terminal, a mode for adding a new position information transmitter; and determining position information based on signals of other position information transmitters, and registering a position of the new position information transmitter.

18 . The method of claim 17 , comprising, evaluating by the terminal, an installation position of the new position information transmitter.

19 . The method of claim 18 , comprising, in response to evaluating the installation position:
determining signal reception sensitivity at the installation position based on a number and an intensity of signals received at the installation position; and displaying a result of the installation position of the new position information transmitter based on the signal reception sensitivity.

20 . The method of claim 18 , comprising:
in response to evaluating the installation position, setting and displaying a recommended installation candidate position, which is located within a predetermined distance from the installation position, and the recommended installation candidate position having high sensitivity of signal reception.

Assignees

• Lg Electronics Inc

Inventors

• Ko Kyoungsuk
• Lee Sungwook
• Kim Junghee
• Lee Hyungsub
• Choi Koh

Classifications

• G05D1/0088

  characterized by the autonomous decision making process, e.g. artificial intelligence, predefined behaviours (using knowledge based models G06N5/00) · CPC title

• G05D1/0219

  ensuring the processing of the whole working surface · CPC title

• G05D1/0225

  involving docking at a fixed facility, e.g. base station or loading bay (parking aids B62D15/027) · CPC title

• G05D2201/0208

  Physics · mapped topic

• G05D1/0022 Primary

  characterised by the communication link (data switching networks in general H04L12/00) · CPC title