Environment recognition unit and robot

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9871957-B2
Application number	US-201615042409-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 12, 2016
Priority date	Feb 17, 2015
Publication date	Jan 16, 2018
Grant date	Jan 16, 2018

Abstract

An environment recognition unit ( 20 a ) includes a frame ( 201 ), cameras ( 202 ) arranged on a front side in the frame ( 201 ), a camera control circuit ( 207 ) disposed on a back side in the frame ( 201 ), a pair of LRFs ( 205 ) arranged laterally to the frame ( 201 ). The frame ( 201 ) includes a first duct ( 208 ) provided adjacent to the camera control circuit ( 207 ), and a second duct ( 210 ) provided adjacent to the cameras ( 202 ).

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An environment recognition unit comprising:
a frame;
a camera disposed at a forward side in the frame and configured to capture an image in a forward direction from the frame;
a control circuit disposed at a backward side in the frame, at a position backward from the camera, and configured to control the camera;
a pair of distance sensors arranged at sides of the frame;
a first cooling mechanism provided adjacent to the control circuit at the backward side in the frame; and
a second cooling mechanism provided adjacent to the camera at the forward side in the frame.

2. The environment recognition unit of claim 1 , further comprising:
a light source configured to illuminate in the forward direction from the frame,
wherein the light source is disposed adjacent to the second cooling mechanism at a position a forward of the second cooling mechanism in the frame.

3. The environment recognition unit of claim 1 , wherein
one of the first cooling mechanism and the second cooling mechanism is a duct, and
at least one opening of the duct is positioned on a lower side or the back side in the frame.

4. The environment recognition unit of claim 1 , wherein
one of the first cooling mechanism and the second cooling mechanism is a duct, and
a sealing mechanism is attached between an opening of the duct and the frame.

5. The environment recognition unit of claim 1 , further comprising:
a distance sensor control circuit disposed in the frame and configured to control operation of the distance sensors,
wherein each of the distance sensors includes
a hollow support extending laterally from the frame,
a driver attached to a lower or upper portion of a tip end portion of the support,
a measurer attached to a portion of the support opposite to the driver to rotate about a yaw axis, and
a distance sensor harness electrically connecting the driver or the measurer to the distance sensor control circuit, and

the distance sensor harness extends into the frame through an inside of the support.

6. A robot comprising:
a base;
an environment recognition unit; and
a coupling mechanism configured to rotatably couple the environment recognition unit to the base,
wherein the environment recognition unit includes
a frame,
a camera disposed at a forward side in the frame and configured to capture an image in a forward direction from the frame,
a control circuit disposed at a backward side in the frame, at a position backward from the camera, and configured to control the camera,
a pair of distance sensors arranged at sides of the frame,
a first cooling mechanism provided adjacent to the control circuit at the backward side in the frame, and
a second cooling mechanism provided adjacent to the camera at the forward side in the frame.

7. The robot of claim 6 , wherein
the environment recognition unit is disposed above the base, and
the coupling mechanism couples the environment recognition unit and the base such that the environment recognition unit is configured to rotate about a pitch axis or a roll axis relative to the base.

8. The robot of claim 6 , further comprising:
a plurality of movable links; and
a plurality of joint mechanisms each coupled such that a corresponding one of the movable links is configured to rotate relative to the base,
wherein the plurality of movable links include a pair of right and left arm links provided at an upper portion of the base, and a pair of right and left leg links provided at a lower portion of the base,
the robot is switchable between a two-legged walking mode using only the leg links or the arm links and a four-legged walking mode using the leg links and the arm links, and
the coupling mechanism couples the environment recognition unit and the base such that the environment recognition unit is configured to rotate about a pitch axis or a roll axis relative to the base.

9. The environment recognition unit of claim 1 , wherein
the first cooling mechanism is one of a duct and a radiator; and
the second cooling mechanism is one of a duct and a radiator.

10. The robot of claim 6 , wherein
the first cooling mechanism is one of a duct and a radiator; and
the second cooling mechanism is one of a duct and a radiator.

Assignees

• Honda Motor Co Ltd
• Honda Motor Co Ltd

Inventors

• Ono Hiroaki
• Yamasaki Yasuhiro
• Ujino Ryuma
• Asatani Minami

Classifications

• H04N23/52

  Elements optimising image sensor operation, e.g. for electromagnetic interference [EMI] protection or temperature control by heat transfer or cooling elements · CPC title

• H04N23/57 Primary

  Mechanical or electrical details of cameras or camera modules specially adapted for being embedded in other devices · CPC title

• H04N7/181 Primary

  for receiving images from a plurality of remote sources · CPC title

• H04N7/185

  from a mobile camera, e.g. for remote control · CPC title

• G01B11/026

  by measuring distance between sensor and object (G01B11/0608 takes precedence) · CPC title