Siemens Aktiengesellschaft

Siemsns Aktiengesellschaft

Rudolf Bauer

Wendelin Feiten

Bj&ouml;rn Magnussen

Wolfgang Rencken

Uwe Wienkop

Michael Zillich

A system and a method for positioning an autonomous mobile unit for docking, wherein a slot-shaped light beam which stands perpendicular to the drive surface of the unit is provided, which beam is emitted by a docking device, and position-sensitive detectors for this light beam are present on the unit, these being arranged parallel to the drive surface of the unit. With the aid of the light beam and of the detectors, the precise rotation (beta) of the unit relative to the docking device can be determined, whereby the unit learns its approximate configuration in space by means of ultrasound or odometry measurements. With this guidance, the unit can dock very precisely at a docking device in order to be able to take on goods or to drive into a garage, for example. Position-sensitive detectors, or photodiodes are provided as receptors for the light beam. The present invention preferably can be used in household robots or in industrial cleaning robots.

Method and system for positioning an autonomous mobile unit for docking

The invention includes a method for docking autonomous mobile units. Travel maneuvers are specified with which constricted space conditions can be taken into consideration. Further, different motion paths are recited that are to be sequentially traversed in order to locate a guide beam and in order to be able to dock reliably and dependably at a docking device. Preferably, a slot-shaped guide beam residing perpendicular to a travel surface of the unit is provided, and position-sensitive detectors for this guide beam are present on the unit, these being arranged parallel to the travel surface of the unit. The exact rotation (beta) of the unit relative to the docking device can be identified on the basis of the guide beam and the detectors, whereby the unit knows its approximate configuration in the space on the basis of ultrasound and odometry measurements. The invention can particularly be utilized in household robots or industrial robots.

Method for docking an autonomous mobile unit with the use of a light beam

The entry and the deletion of the degree of occupancy values in cellularly structured environment maps of autonomous mobile units is improved with the method. Dependent on the measuring directions of ultrasound sensors, different sectors in which the degrees of occupancy value are separately incremented are defined for each cell of the cellularly structured environment map. This has the advantage that an obstacle measured by different sensors only leads to an incrementation or a de-incrementation of the occupancy degree of a respective cell when this measurement ensued from the same measuring direction with respect to the cellularly structured environment map. Dynamic objects in the measurement area of the autonomous mobile unit can thus be more quickly deleted from the map and timeout measurements that have arisen due to reflections of echos do not lead to really existing objects being deleted from the map.

Process for preparing an area plan having a cellular structure and comprising a unit moving automatically and positioned in said area using sensors based on wave reflection

With the improved path finding method a self-propelled mobile unit determines a path around obstacles. A heuristic avoidance strategy is used, whereby the mobile unit, when encountering an obstacle, first evades by taking a first direction and implements an avoidance procedure up to a limit value if it cannot move around the obstacle. Subsequently, the unit returns to the point of departure of the avoidance maneuver and attempts to evade in the other direction. If it is likewise not possible to move around the obstacle in this direction before the limit value is reached, the barrier for the deviation in the avoidance maneuver is incremented. The unit then again attempts to move around the obstacle, first in the original avoidance direction. The limit value is increased again after respectively two more abortive attempts. The procedure is implemented until a path around the obstacle has been found and the destination can be reached. This avoids situations wherein a self-propelled mobile unit remains captured in an endless loop due to an avoidance maneuver in front of an extensive obstacle, whereby it attempts to move around the obstacle toward the right and toward the left but is prevented by the evasion limit from covering enough distance to move around the obstacle.

Path finding method for a self-propelled mobile unit

An improved method for the orientation of autonomous mobile units is provided. Collision distances to obstacles are thereby calculated on the basis of the steering and drive geometry of the movable unit. On the basis of these distances, allowed steering angle ranges for the unit are defined. Additionally, a defined observation horizon is prescribed for the sensor equipment of the unit. The obstacles to be evaluated are within this horizon. Moreover, a safety zone is defined around the unit in which no obstacles can be located; otherwise, travel in reverse is triggered. For route optimization of the unit, steering angle ranges that derive from different observation horizons and safety zones are combined on a case-by-case basis. By reducing the safety margin only in narrow passages down to the housing contour of the unit in the extreme case, the maximum steering angle can be utilized. As a result thereof, a greatest possible degree of maneuverability is also assured between obstacles residing close to one another.

Method for collision avoidance with the assistance of a steering angle

A method is provided for improving the localization of a robot autonomous mobile unit. A slippage is predicted along a path that the unit is to traverse may be predicted, in that a simplified absolute path trajectory is determined, and based on the unit geometry and motion behavior of three-wheel kinematics, an imaginary slippage derives in the end position. This imaginary slippage can be calculated for various end positions and the most beneficial travel path can thus be selected from a starting point.

Method for determining slippage of an autonomous mobile unit with

Method for the orientation, route planning and control of an autonomous

A system is provided for sensing an exit direction of a flexible supply line relative to an apparatus, such as robot or autonomous mobile unit. A method is also provided for planning the movement of such a unit based partly on such supply line direction data. The system includes a pressure sensor a least partially disposed around an exit opening through which the supply line is feedably guided. Upon contact at a given point on the sensor from the supply line, the sensor emits a signal corresponding to a particular exit direction. From this signal, a probable exit direction is inferred and a more precise movement planning is enabled, avoiding measurement errors that arise when the cable is run over can be avoided, or avoiding knottings of the cable.

System for determining the exit direction of a flexible supply line from

An improved method and apparatus for constructing a cellularly structured environment map of a self-propelled, mobile unit is provided. Examples of such self-propelled, mobile units are household robots, self-propelled vacuum cleaners and industrial transport vehicles. To this end, a higher increment for the occupancy degree of a currently evaluated cell is selected for near objects. Further, the occupancy degree is also incremented dependent on a velocity. As an additional measure given standstill of the unit, all cells of the environment map that are located within the aperture cone of a wavefront that emanates from the sensor of the mobile unit are modified in terms of their occupancy degree values. Additionally, a blind zone in which grid cells of the environment map experience no modification of the occupancy degree is defined around the mobile unit.

Method and apparatus for constructing an environment map of a

The method produces an improved cellularly structured environment map of a self-propelled mobile unit which orients itself using sensors based on wave reflection. In detail, the following measures are implemented. First, an error of discrete representation in the positional determination of the self-propelled mobile unit is avoided in that the position of the self-propelled mobile unit within an originating cell of the coordinate system of the environment map is also used for identifying the location of obstacles. Further, a smaller cell size is employed in the proximity of the self-propelled mobile unit in order to facilitate maneuvering between obstacles located close to one another. Further, two separate grid maps are maintained, one containing the unit with a rotational orientation and the other being rotated by a rotational angle relative to the global environment map for a fast occupation of a plurality of cells with values. Examples of such self-propelled mobile units are household robots, self-propelled vacuums and industrial transport vehicles.

Method for producing a cellularly structured environment map of a

The method provides a better incorporation of a defined safety interval from obstacles in the route planning of a self-propelled mobile unit. By contrast to methods that were hitherto standard, a shell with equidistant spacing from a housing of the self-propelled mobile unit is not placed around the mobile unit; rather, the safety interval is calculated via the route at a drive wheel of the self-propelled mobile unit. That is, the kinematics of the self-propelled mobile unit are first used in the calculation of the safety interval from obstacles. The advantage is that better maneuverability is achieved between obstacles located close to one another.

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Neubiberg, Germany

Rudolf Bauer