Device for Influencing Navigation of an Autonomous Vehicle

Abstract

A device for controlling the reflection of incident beams to influence navigation of an autonomous device having a navigation sensor comprising a beam emitter and a beam detector for detecting reflected emitted beams. The device comprises at least one surface having a geometry configured to direct a reflection from the emitted beam in a predetermined direction so that a suitable amount of the reflected beam can be detected by the detector.

Description

INTRODUCTION[0001]The present teachings relate to devices and methods for controlling the reflection of emitted beams to influence navigation of an autonomous device having a navigation sensor utilizing reflected emitted beams to influence navigation, for example by ensuring that a reflection is obtained from an encountered surface that is inclined with respect to a surface on which the autonomous device is traveling. In certain embodiments, the present teachings relate more specifically to providing a surface configured to facilitate refection of emissions at an angle that allows proper operation of a cliff sensor of an autonomous device such as a robotic cleaning device encountering a surface that is inclined with respect to a surface on which the autonomous device is traveling.BACKGROUND[0002]Many autonomous devices that move around an area in a random or planned coverage path include navigation sensors such as cliff sensors that prevent the device from driving over a ledge such ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0010]The present teachings further provide a docking station having at least one inclined, reflective surface configured to control the reflection of incident beams, the surface influencing navigation of a robotic cleaning device having a navigation sensor comprising a beam emitter

Problems solved by technology

Because the cliff sensor works on the notion that a “cliff” exists when no reflection of the IR-LED beam is received, there can be occasions when no cliff exists, but the environment, surface composition, or surface geometry interferes with reflection of the IR-LED beam back to the receiver, causing false detection of a cliff and inappropriate halting or reversing of the autonomous device.

While such inclined surfaces may not always interfere with accurate cliff sensor detection, they have the potential to interfere therewith.

Thus, the controller may inappropriately halt or reverse the device, believing that a cliff exists.

Further, the shinier (more reflective) the inclined surface is, the more the emitted beam is scattered and the less likely it is that the detector will receive enough emitted beam to properly move forward over the surface.

Docking station design, for example combining aesthetic considerations with functional requirements, may dictate that certain surfaces such as exterior walls supporting the raised surface be inclined at an angle of between 30° to 60° which, as stated above, can cause inappropriate halting and / or reversing of the autonomous device, particularly if such inclined surfaces are highly reflective.

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