KR20070096689A - Moving robot and driving method for the moving robot - Google Patents

Abstract

A moving robot and a driving method thereof are provided to improve the efficiency for executing a mission by applying a driving algorithm for a mission completion point and a general driving algorithm selectively. A moving robot comprises a memory(270), a driving unit(230), a completion point judging unit(280), and a control unit(260). The memory stores a general driving algorithm and a final driving algorithm. The driving unit moves the designated mission execution space according to the driving algorithm stored in the memory. The completion point judging unit judges the driving completion point during the mission. The control unit controls the whole device to receive the completion point information from the completion point judging unit, to access the completion driving algorithm stored in the memory, and to output the control signal to the driving unit.

Description

Moving robot and driving method for the moving robot}

1 is a schematic diagram schematically showing a driving process of a cleaning robot which is a representative example of a mobile robot according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a block diagram schematically showing a cleaning robot according to an embodiment of the present invention.

3 is a flowchart schematically illustrating a finishing driving process of a cleaning robot which is an example of a mobile robot according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

The present invention relates to a mobile robot, and more particularly, to a mobile robot and a driving method of a mobile robot performing a predetermined finishing operation by determining a task termination time of a mobile robot performing a mission in a predetermined area.

Robots have been developed for industrial use and as part of factory automation, or have been used to collect or collect information on behalf of humans in extreme environments that humans cannot tolerate. This field of robotics has been developed in recent years as it is used in the cutting-edge space development industry, and until recently, human-friendly home robots have been developed. A representative example of such a human-friendly home robot is a cleaning robot.

A cleaning robot, a mobile robot, is a device that inhales dust or foreign substances while driving itself in a certain cleaning area such as a house or an office. In addition to the configuration of a general vacuum cleaner that sucks in dust or foreign matter, such a cleaning robot includes a driving means including a right wheel and a left wheel motor for driving the cleaning robot, and a plurality of driving means for driving without colliding with various obstacles in the cleaning area. It is composed of a sensor and a control unit for controlling the overall device.

The sweeping robot has an automatic recharging function because it performs a mission by moving itself in a designated area. The automatic charging function automatically detects the remaining battery level of the robot and automatically returns to the charging station installed at a predetermined position in the mission area when the cleaning robot does not reach the reference value.

On the other hand, in the traveling method of the cleaning robot, if a mission start command is input, the vehicle performs a mission while driving straight. When a cleaning robot obstacle is detected, the cleaning robot randomly rotates to avoid obstacles and continues the mission. And, when the obstacle is detected, there is a grid driving method that rotates 90 degrees to the left and right, go straight by a predetermined distance, and then go straight after 90 degrees. In general, the cleaning robot adopts one driving method to perform the mission while avoiding obstacles in the mission execution space.

However, in this way, the cleaning robot can be effectively cleaned in the area with few obstacles. However, the cleaning robot can not be effective when the cleaning robot is close to the wall. In addition, even if most of the cleaning area is cleaned, the area close to the wall can not be cleaned, there is a disadvantage that people need to clean themselves.

The present invention has been devised to solve this problem, and its purpose is to allow driving by applying different driving algorithms to the starting and performing the mission stage and the finishing stage, thereby improving the driving and mission performance capability of the mobile robot. The present invention provides a mobile robot and a traveling method of the mobile robot.

Furthermore, the present invention provides a mobile robot and a mobile robot driving method capable of finishing a mission by determining a finishing time according to mission execution time information input from a user and applying a separate driving algorithm.

Furthermore, the present invention provides a mobile robot and a driving method of the mobile robot capable of determining a finishing time by measuring a battery level of the mobile robot.

As described above, the mobile robot according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention is equipped with two driving algorithms. When a user inputs a command of performing a predetermined task (for example, a cleaning robot's cleaning task) to the mobile robot, the mobile robot drives the driving means to perform the task and drives the mobile robot by a predetermined driving algorithm. The mobile robot randomly travels the mission performing area while avoiding obstacles according to the driving algorithm.

When the mobile robot reaches the completion point of the designated mission while performing the mission, the mobile robot moves to the reference position in the mission execution area and then travels according to the predetermined finishing driving algorithm, and then returns to the predetermined position such as a charging station. .

According to a characteristic aspect of the present invention, the mobile robot according to the present invention may be a cleaning robot. The cleaning robot performs the cleaning task while driving the designated area with the driving algorithm as described above. When the finish point is reached during the cleaning task, the cleaning robot returns to the charging station located on the wall to perform a finishing cleaning task, such as, for example, wall cleaning, then closes the wall around the charging station and follows the wall. The following Wall-Based Driving will allow you to return to the charging station after completing the cleaning task.

According to a characteristic aspect of the present invention, the completion point of the task according to the present invention may be determined through a timer provided in the mobile robot. When the user sets the task execution time of the mobile robot in advance and inputs it with the driving command, the mobile robot starts driving according to the driving command, while the timer starts counting according to the task execution time input from the user.

The timer counts the task execution time input by the user, and when the execution time expires, the timer outputs the finishing time information to the controller that controls the overall robot. The control unit receives the finishing time information, accesses the finishing driving algorithm among the driving algorithms stored in the memory, and outputs a control signal to the driving means so that the mobile robot travels according to the finishing driving algorithm.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the task completion time point according to the present invention may be determined by checking the remaining amount of the battery provided in the mobile robot. The mobile robot is equipped with a battery sensing circuit for automatic charging. When the remaining battery level is lowered below a predetermined level by using the battery detection circuit, the finishing time point information is output to the controller. The control unit receives the finishing time information, accesses the finishing driving algorithm among the driving algorithms stored in the memory, and outputs a control signal to the driving means so that the mobile robot travels according to the finishing driving algorithm.

The output of the battery timing information of the battery detection circuit is when the detected battery level is lower than the battery remaining level plus the minimum remaining amount for charging and the minimum remaining amount required for performing the finishing task.

Therefore, the mobile robot according to the present invention has an advantage of performing the task more effectively by determining the end time of performing the task and selectively applying an appropriate driving algorithm thereto.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings so that those skilled in the art can easily understand and reproduce the present invention.

In addition, it will be described in detail assuming a mobile robot of the present invention as a cleaning robot which is an example of a mobile robot.

1 is a schematic diagram schematically showing a driving process of a cleaning robot which is a representative example of a mobile robot according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. As shown, the cleaning robot 200 performs a cleaning mission while driving the area determined according to the driving command of the user according to a general driving algorithm, and moves to the reference position of the corresponding area according to the finishing time point information, and changes the reference position. After finishing the cleaning operation while driving along the wall of the area to the center, it returns to the reference position again.

The reference position may be, for example, the charging table 100 of the cleaning robot 200. Charging station 100 charges a battery for supplying the power required to drive the cleaning robot (200). If the cleaning robot 200 detects the remaining capacity of the battery while performing the mission and determines that charging is necessary, the cleaning robot 200 returns to the charging stand 100 by the charging stand return algorithm. When the cleaning robot 200 is docked by the charging table return algorithm, the charging table 100 supplies power to the cleaning robot 200, and the supplied power charges the battery. When the charging is finished, the cleaning robot 200 leaves the charging station 100 to resume the mission that was being performed.

The charging table 100 wirelessly transmits a route guidance signal so that the cleaning robot 200 can return to the battery more quickly and accurately. The cleaning robot 200 receiving the path guide signal may return to the charging station 100 according to the path guide signal. This charging station return system is a technique already known before the application of the present invention, a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

Figure 2 is a block diagram schematically showing a cleaning robot according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown, the cleaning robot 200 according to the present invention includes a memory 270 in which an operation program for driving the cleaning robot 200 and general driving and finishing driving algorithms are stored, in addition to the basic configuration, and the driving finish during the mission. The finishing point determining means 280 for determining the point of view and the overall apparatus are controlled, the finishing point determining information is received from the finishing point determining means 280 to access the finishing driving algorithm among the driving algorithms stored in the memory 270, and Accordingly, the control unit 260 for outputting a control signal to the driving means 230 is configured.

Looking at the basic configuration of the cleaning robot 200 includes a dust detection sensor for detecting dust or foreign matter in the cleaning area, the suction means 210 for sucking the dust or foreign matter detected by the dust detection sensor, and the suction means 210 Supplying driving power of the dust storage means 220 for storing the dust and foreign matter collected by the), the traveling means 230 for driving the cleaning robot 200, the suction means 210 and the traveling means 230 The battery 240 and the battery detection circuit 250 for detecting the remaining amount of the battery 240 every predetermined period and outputs a battery charge request signal when the value is less than the predetermined value, and the overall device of the cleaning robot 200 It is configured to include a control unit 260 for controlling.

In the basic configuration of the cleaning robot 200, the suction means 210, the dust storage means 220 and the battery 240 may be a well-known configuration, the detailed description thereof will be omitted.

The memory 270 is configured of, for example, a nonvolatile memory device such as an EEPROM or a flash memory, and stores an operating program for driving the cleaning robot 200. Also, according to a characteristic aspect of the present invention, a driving algorithm for performing a general task and a finishing driving algorithm for driving at the finishing time point are stored. The operating program and driving algorithms stored in the memory 270 are controlled by the controller 260.

The driving means 230 drives the cleaning robot 200 by driving the left and right wheel motors 231 and 232 according to a control signal output from the controller 260. The left and right wheel motors 231 and 232 of the traveling means 230 are connected to the left and right wheels for driving the cleaning robot 200. Therefore, the cleaning robot 200 travels forward, backward, left, and right according to the rotation speeds and directions of the left and right wheel motors 231 and 232.

The finishing point determining unit 280 determines the cleaning finishing point of the cleaning robot 200 and outputs finishing point information to the controller 260. According to a characteristic aspect of the present invention, the finishing time determining means 280 may be configured with a timer 281 for counting the corresponding time according to the cleaning time information input. The timer 281 counts a cleaning time when a cleaning time input from a user, for example, 30 minutes, 1 hour, or the like is input, or when a cleaning driving command is input according to a previously stored cleaning time. When the cleaning time expires, the timer 281 outputs finishing time information, that is, cleaning finishing time information, to the controller 260.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the finishing point determining means 280 according to the present invention may be a battery detection circuit 250 provided in the cleaning robot 200. The battery detecting circuit 250 measures the remaining amount of the battery 240 at predetermined intervals and outputs finishing time information to the controller 260 when the remaining amount of the battery 240 measured is less than or equal to a predetermined level.

The existing battery detection circuit 250 detects the battery 240 at predetermined intervals and outputs a battery charge request signal to the controller 260 when the total amount of the battery 240 falls below a level that requires charging. In the present invention, the remaining amount of the battery 240 by using the battery detection circuit 250 to a predetermined level, for example, after performing the final cleaning task to the level remaining enough to return to the charging station 100 again. If it falls, the controller 260 outputs finishing time point information. The remaining amount of the battery 240 as a criterion of the finishing time information may be a value calculated through an experiment at the time of manufacturing the product.

The finishing point determining unit 280 may use both the above-described method using the timer 281 and the method of detecting the remaining amount of the battery 240 together. For example, when the user does not enter the cleaning time can finish the run by using the battery 240 remaining amount, even if the user enters the cleaning time remaining amount of the battery 240 of the cleaning robot 200 If it is down below a predetermined level, it may be possible to finish clean before returning to the charging table 100.

The controller 260 controls the driving of the entire apparatus according to a driving command input from the user, receives the finishing time information output from the finishing time determining means 280, and accesses the finishing driving algorithm stored in the memory 270, The cleaning robot 200 outputs a control signal to the driving means 230 so that the cleaning robot 200 travels according to the accessed finishing driving algorithm.

In general, the cleaning robot 200 performs a cleaning task while avoiding / driving obstacles located in the cleaning area by using one driving method. However, this cleaning method has a disadvantage in that the cleaning of the vicinity of the wall or near the obstacle is not efficient.

According to a characteristic aspect of the present invention, when the finishing driving algorithm according to the present invention reaches a finishing point, the finishing driving algorithm moves to a reference position in the cleaning zone and then returns to the reference position while traveling along the wall around the reference position. Can be. This driving method is called a wall following driving method.

Wall Following (Wall Following) driving method according to the finish cleaning run is preferably to the cleaning robot 200 to run as close to the wall as possible, the distance from the wall at this time when the cleaning robot 200 Can be set by the manufacturer. For example, when the separation distance for the detection and avoidance of obstacles and the wall surface during normal driving is 10cm, the separation distance with the wall surface during the finishing cleaning driving is set within 5 cm. This is to increase the cleaning function more efficiently by allowing more precise cleaning of walls and corners.

Therefore, by changing the traveling algorithm at the start of cleaning and during the cleaning and the run algorithm at the cleaning finish time as in the present invention, it is possible to efficiently clean the above wall or obstacle.

Here, the reference position is preferably the charging table 100 of the cleaning robot 200. As described above, the charging table 100 wirelessly transmits the route guidance signal so that the cleaning robot 200 can return more quickly and accurately. The cleaning robot 200 receiving the path guide signal may return to the charging station 100 according to the path guide signal. Therefore, by designating the reference position as the charging station 100, it is possible to return to the reference position with the existing charging station return system without having to designate a separate reference position and implement a method of returning to the reference position at the finishing time.

Hereinafter, the finishing driving method of the above-described cleaning robot 200 will be described in more detail with reference to FIG. 3.

3 is a flowchart schematically illustrating a finishing driving process of a cleaning robot which is an example of a mobile robot according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. As shown, the driving method of the mobile robot 200 according to the present invention comprises the steps of receiving the finishing time information output from the finishing time determination means 280 of the mobile robot 200 while driving, and finishing according to the finishing time information Outputting a control signal to access the driving algorithm from the memory 270 to move to the reference position in the mission execution zone, and traveling along the wall surface of the mission execution zone from the reference position to return to the reference position again. ) And outputting a control signal.

If the user inputs a driving command of the cleaning robot 200 docked to the charging stand 100, for example, by pressing an input button provided on the cleaning robot 200 or an input button of a remote controller provided at the time of purchase ( S101, the cleaning robot 200 receives the driving command to access and drive the operating program of the cleaning robot 200 stored in the memory 270, while outputting a control signal to the driving means 230, charging station 100 Get away from

When the cleaning robot 200 is separated from the charging stand 100, the controller 260 outputs and drives a control signal to the suction means 210 that detects and sucks dust and foreign substances, while driving the vehicle 230 according to a driving algorithm. Outputs a control signal and the driving means 230 drives the left and right wheel motors 231 and 232 according to the control signal, thereby allowing the cleaning robot 200 to move (S103).

When the finishing point information is received from the finishing point determining unit 280 during the mission in the cleaning area according to the driving algorithm (S105), the controller 260 accesses the finishing driving algorithm stored in the memory 270 to access the corresponding finishing driving algorithm. In response to the control means 230 outputs a control signal (S107).

The finishing driving algorithm according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention moves to the reference position in the cleaning zone, for example, the charging table 100 of the cleaning robot 200, and then moves along the wall around the reference position to the reference position. It may be a driving method to return. This driving method is called a wall following driving method.

The control unit 260 outputs a control command to the driving means 230 so that the cleaning robot 200 returns to the reference position in the cleaning zone, that is, the charging table 100, according to the finishing driving algorithm. The route 200 sends a route guidance signal to smoothly return to the charging station 100. The route guidance signal transmitted as described above is received through the wireless communication unit provided in the cleaning robot 200, and the control unit 260 outputs a control signal to the charging unit 100 according to the route guidance signal received. It is possible to return (S109). Since the charging method for returning the charging stand is already widely used, a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

When the return to the charging station 100 is completed (S111), the control unit 260 outputs a control signal to the driving means 230 and travels along the wall while maintaining a predetermined interval on the wall again, that is, the charging station 100. Return to (S113). When the cleaning robot 200 is driven according to the finishing driving algorithm, it is preferable to make the cleaning robot 200 run as close as possible to the wall surface, and the separation distance from the wall surface at this time is the manufacturer at the time of manufacturing the cleaning robot 200. It can be set by.

For example, when the separation distance for the detection and avoidance of obstacles and the wall surface during normal driving is 10cm, the separation distance with the wall surface during the finishing cleaning driving is set within 5 cm. This is to increase the cleaning function more efficiently by allowing more precise cleaning of walls and corners.

When the cleaning robot 200 returns to the charging station 100 again by the finishing driving algorithm (S115), the controller 260 causes the cleaning robot 200 to dock to the charging station 100 according to the charging docking algorithm, thereby performing a cleaning task. The execution of this is terminated (S117).

According to a characteristic aspect of the present invention, the finishing time determining means 280 according to the present invention may be configured as a timer 281 for counting the corresponding time according to the cleaning time information input. The timer 281 counts the cleaning time if a cleaning time input from the user is input, for example, 30 minutes, 1 hour, or the like, or a cleaning driving command is input according to a previously stored cleaning time. When the cleaning time expires, the timer 281 outputs finishing time information, that is, cleaning finishing time information, to the controller 260.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the finishing point determining means 280 according to the present invention may be a battery detection circuit 250 provided in the cleaning robot 200. The battery detecting circuit 250 measures the remaining amount of the battery 240 at predetermined intervals and outputs finishing time information to the controller 260 when the remaining amount of the battery 240 measured is less than or equal to a predetermined level.

The voltage of the battery 240 is measured at predetermined intervals in order to determine the automatic charging time by sensing the remaining voltage of the battery 240. The voltage sensing circuit 180 compares the detected voltage with a reference voltage value stored in the memory 270 and sends a charge request signal to the automatic return processor 272 of the microprocessor 150 when the detected voltage is less than the reference voltage value. Output

In the present invention, by using the battery detection circuit 250, the remaining amount of the battery 240 has fallen below the remaining level enough to return to the charging station 100 after performing a predetermined level, for example, the final cleaning task. In this case, the finishing point information is output to the controller 260. The remaining amount of the battery 240 as a criterion of the finishing time information may be a value calculated through an experiment at the time of manufacturing the product.

As described above, the mobile robot and the traveling method of the mobile robot according to the present invention include a general driving algorithm and a driving algorithm at the end of performing the mission, and by determining an end point of performing the mission and selectively applying an appropriate driving algorithm thereto, It has the advantage of being able to perform missions more effectively.

In addition, it is possible to determine the completion of the task by simply adding a timer, and by using a battery detection circuit that detects the remaining battery capacity, there is an advantage that can be easily implemented only by the addition of a simple circuit or software modification.

The present invention has been described above with reference to preferred embodiments, but is not limited thereto, and is interpreted by the appended claims, which are intended to cover many modifications that will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention. Should be done.

Claims (11)

A memory storing general driving and finishing driving algorithms; Driving means for moving a predetermined task performance space according to a driving algorithm stored in the memory; Finishing time determining means for determining a driving finishing time during the mission; A control unit for controlling the overall apparatus, receiving finishing time information from the finishing time determining means, accessing the finishing driving algorithm stored in the memory, and outputting a control signal to the driving means accordingly. The method of claim 1, wherein the finishing driving algorithm is: The mobile robot moves to a reference position in the mission execution space according to the finishing time information, and moves along the wall surface of the mission execution space from the reference position to return to the reference position. The method of claim 1, wherein the finishing time determination means: A mobile robot, comprising: a timer counting a task execution time input from a user and outputting the task execution time to the controller when the time expires; The method of claim 1, wherein the finishing time determination means: And a battery remaining measuring means for measuring the remaining battery of the mobile robot and outputting it to the controller when the remaining battery is below a predetermined level. The method of claim 1, wherein the reference position is: A mobile robot, characterized in that the charging table of the mobile robot. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, Mobile robot, characterized in that the mobile robot is a cleaning robot. Receiving finishing timing information output from the finishing timing determining means of the mobile robot while driving; Outputting a control signal to access the finishing driving algorithm according to the finishing time information from the memory and to move to a reference position in the mission execution zone; Outputting a control signal to the driving means to travel along the wall surface of the task performing area from the reference position and return to the reference position again; Driving method of the mobile robot comprising a. The method of claim 7, wherein the finishing time determination means: A timer for counting the task execution time input from the user and outputting the time to the controller when the time expires. The method of claim 7, wherein the finishing time determination means: And a battery remaining amount measuring means for measuring the remaining amount of the battery of the mobile robot and outputting the remaining battery level to the controller if the corresponding battery level is less than or equal to a predetermined level. The method of claim 7, wherein the reference position is: A traveling method of a mobile robot, characterized in that the charging table of the mobile robot. The method according to any one of claims 7 to 10, Traveling robot is characterized in that the mobile robot is a cleaning robot.

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