Other

Clearpath Robotics Inc.

Rockwell Automation Technologies Incorporated

Yan Ma

Ryan Christopher Gariepy

Alex Bencz

Anthony William Tod

Kareem Shehata

Prasenjit Mukherjee

Teyvonia Thomas

Shahab Kaynama

James Servos

Michael Irvine

Peiyi Chen

A system, method and apparatus for executing tasks with unmanned vehicles is provided. The system includes an unmanned vehicle comprising: a chassis; a propulsion system configured to move the chassis; sensor(s) configured to sense features around the chassis; a memory storing feature reference data; a communication interface; and a processor configured to: receive, using the interface, a command having task data and a location associated with a given feature; control the propulsion system to move the chassis to the location; while the chassis is moving to the location, determine, using the sensor(s), that the given feature is detected based on the feature reference data; and, responsive to the given feature being detected, control the propulsion system to execute a task based on the task data.

Systems and methods for executing a task with an unmanned vehicle

Systems and methods of unmanned vehicles having self-calibrating sensors and actuators are provided. The unmanned vehicle comprises a communication interface and a processor for controlling a propulsion system of the vehicle and receiving sensor data from one or more sensors of the vehicle. The processor is configured to operate in a guided calibration mode by controlling the propulsion system according to commands received from an external guided control system, while processing the sensor data to determine a degree of certainty on a calibration the sensor data and a position of the vehicle. The processor determines that the degree of certainty is above a threshold value associated with safe operation of the propulsion system in an autonomous calibration mode, and subsequently switch operation of the propulsion system to the autonomous calibration mode based on the determination that the degree of certainty is above the threshold value.

Systems and methods for unmanned vehicles having self-calibrating sensors and actuators

A system for path control for a mobile unmanned vehicle in an environment is provided. The system includes: a sensor connected to the mobile unmanned vehicle; the mobile unmanned vehicle configured to initiate a first fail-safe routine responsive to detection of an object in a first sensor region adjacent to the sensor; and a processor connected to the mobile unmanned vehicle. The processor is configured to: generate a current path based on a map of the environment; based on the current path, issue velocity commands to cause the mobile unmanned vehicle to execute the current path; responsive to detection of an obstacle in a second sensor region, initiate a second fail-safe routine in the mobile unmanned vehicle to avoid entry of the obstacle into the first sensor region and initiation of the first fail-safe routine.

Method, system and apparatus for self-driving vehicle obstacle avoidance

Systems and methods for obstacle avoidance with a self-driving vehicle are provided. The system comprises a processor connected to the self-driving vehicle and a sensor in communication with the processor. The sensor is configured to detect objects. The processor is configured to receive a measurement of the self-driving vehicle's speed, and define a sensor region based on the speed. The processor can determine that an object detected by the sensor is within the sensor region, and then initiate a fail-safe routine. The sensor region may be defined based on a range parameter. The sensor region may be defined based on the stopping distance of the vehicle. The sensor region may be redefined when the vehicle's speed changes.

A system, method and apparatus for implementation of variable references frames in unmanned vehicles is provided, which includes an unmanned vehicle comprising: a chassis; a propulsion system configured to move the chassis; sensor(s) configured to sense features around the chassis; a memory storing a global reference frame associated with an environment within which the chassis is to move; a communication interface; and a processor configured to: receive, using the interface, a command to move to a given coordinate in the global reference frame; control the propulsion system to move the chassis to the given coordinate; when the chassis is at the given coordinate, determine, using the sensor(s), that a given feature is detected; and, when so: automatically cease controlling the propulsion system according to the global reference frame; automatically move the chassis according to a local reference frame defined with reference to a point associated with the given feature.

Variable reference frames in unmanned vehicles

An apparatus, method, and system of self-calibrating sensors and actuators for unmanned vehicles is provided, which includes an unmanned vehicle comprising: a chassis; a propulsion system; one or more sensors configured to sense features around the chassis; a memory; a communication interface; and a processor configured to: operate the propulsion system in a guided calibration mode; automatically switch operation of the propulsion system to an autonomous calibration mode when a degree of certainty on a calibration of one or more of sensor data and a position of the chassis is above a first threshold value associated with safe operation of the propulsion system in the autonomous calibration mode; thereafter, operate the propulsion system in the autonomous calibration mode; and, automatically switch operation of the propulsion system to an operational mode when the degree of certainty is above a second threshold value greater than the first threshold value.

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Waterloo, Canada

Yan Ma