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.

1 . 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 comprising:
 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.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the surface geometry comprises at least one step. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein each step comprises a vertical surface and a horizontal surface. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein each step comprises a generally horizontal surface and a generally vertical surface, wherein angles of the horizontal and vertical surfaces are oriented at a predetermined angle to attain a desired reflection path of light from the stepped surface. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the surface geometry comprises a bumpy, textured surface. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the autonomous device is a robotic floor cleaning device. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 6 , wherein the navigation sensor is a cliff sensor. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the surface is inclined with respect to a surface over which the autonomous device had been traveling. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein the surface is inclined at an angle of 30° to 60° with respect to a surface over which the autonomous device had been traveling. 
     
     
         10 . 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 comprising:
 at least one surface extending generally in a first plane and having a geometry comprising sub-surfaces extending in different planes than the first plane and directing a reflection from the emitted beam toward the beam detector.   
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein the surface geometry comprises at least one step. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein each step comprises a vertical surface and a horizontal surface. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein each step comprises a generally horizontal surface and a generally vertical surface, wherein angles of the horizontal and vertical surfaces are oriented at a predetermined angle to attain a desired reflection path of light from the stepped surface. 
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein the autonomous device is a robotic floor cleaning device. 
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 14 , wherein the navigation sensor is a cliff sensor. 
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein the surface is inclined with respect to a surface over which the autonomous device had been traveling. 
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 16 , wherein the surface is inclined at an angle of 30° to 60° with respect to a surface over which the autonomous device had been traveling. 
     
     
         18 . 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 and a beam detector for detecting reflected emitted beams,
 wherein the at least one inclined, reflective surface has 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.   
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 18 , wherein the surface geometry comprises at least one step. 
     
     
         20 . The device of  claim 19 , wherein each step comprises a generally horizontal surface and a generally vertical surface, wherein angles of the horizontal and vertical surfaces are oriented at a predetermined angle to attain a desired reflection path of light from the stepped surface.