System and method for monitoring operation of an autonomous robot

Abstract

A system and method for monitoring operation of an autonomous robot. In one aspect, the invention can be a method comprising: defining, with a central processing unit of the autonomous robot, a perimeter of an area of confinement; storing the perimeter of the area of confinement within a memory device of the autonomous robot as map data; transmitting the map data from a transceiver of the autonomous robot to a server; overlaying, by the server, the area of confinement onto a satellite image corresponding to a geographic location that includes the area of confinement to create a visual representation of the area of confinement overlaid onto the satellite image; transmitting, from the server to an external device, the visual representation of the area of confinement overlaid onto the satellite image; and displaying, on a display, the visual representation of the area of confinement overlaid onto the satellite image.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for monitoring operation of an autonomous robot comprising:
 a server;   an external device having a display and a transceiver for receiving data from the server;   an autonomous robot comprising a housing, a control system comprising a location tracking unit, a memory device, a transceiver for transmitting signals to the server, and a central processing unit;   the central processing unit configured to: (1) define a perimeter of an area of confinement within the memory device; (2) transmit, via the transceiver of the autonomous robot, first data indicative of the perimeter of the area of confinement to the server; and (3) transmit, via the transceiver of the autonomous robot, second data indicative of a location of the autonomous robot within the area of confinement to the server based on output generated by the location tracking unit, wherein the second data is transmitted while the autonomous robot is performing a task within the area of confinement;   the server configured to transmit the first data indicative of the perimeter of the area of confinement and the second data indicative of the location of the autonomous robot within the area of confinement to the external device; and   wherein upon receipt of the first and second data by the external device, a visual representation of a status of a work session of the autonomous robot at a point in time T1 during the work session is displayed on the display of the external device.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the status of the work session comprises: (1) an indication of a current location of the autonomous robot within the area of confinement at the point in time T1 during the work session; (2) an indication of first portions of the area of confinement on which the task has been completed by the autonomous robot at the point in time T1 during the work session; and (3) an indication of second portions of the area of confinement on which the task has not yet been completed by the autonomous robot at the point in time T1 during the work session. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2  wherein the indication of the first portions of the area of confinement on which the task has been completed at the point in time T1 during the work session and the indication of the second portions of the area of confinement on which the task has not yet been completed at the point in time T1 during the work session are displayed in a contrasting manner on the display of the external device. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the task is cutting grass and wherein the central processing unit is configured to detect, via a current sensor, a thickness of the grass by comparing a current value received by the current sensor to a threshold current value. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4  further comprising:
 the central processing unit further configured to transmit, from the transceiver of the autonomous robot to the server, data indicative of the thickness of the grass at various locations within the area of confinement; 
 the server configured to transmit said data indicative of the thickness of the grass at various locations within the area of confinement to the external device; and 
 wherein said data indicative of the thickness of the grass at various locations within the area of confinement is displayed on the display of the external device to visually represent the thickness of the grass at various locations within the area of confinement. 
 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the server maintains a real-time log of the work session and wherein the first and second data is transmitted from the server to the external device at predetermined time intervals during the work session. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the central processing unit is configured to define the perimeter of the area of confinement by: (1-1) tracking the location of the autonomous robot based on output generated by the location tracking unit during movement of the autonomous robot; (1-2) recording a first location point of the autonomous robot within the memory device; (1-3) automatically recording a plurality of additional discrete location points of the autonomous robot within the memory device while the autonomous robot maneuvers along the perimeter of the area of confinement; and (1-4) defining a closed-geometry comprising the first location point and the plurality of additional discrete location points as the perimeter of the area of confinement within the memory device. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the central processing unit is further configured to:
 transmit to the server a perceived location of the autonomous robot within the area of confinement; and 
 update in the memory device the perceived location to an actual location of the autonomous robot within the area of confinement based upon actual location data received from the server. 
 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the central processing unit is further configured to:
 move the autonomous robot at a first velocity when the autonomous robot is within the area of confinement and at least a first distance from the perimeter of the area of confinement; and 
 reduce the first velocity to a second velocity when the autonomous robot is approaching the perimeter of the area of confinement and the autonomous robot is less than the first distance from the perimeter of the area of confinement. 
 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the autonomous robot further comprises a vision system operably coupled to the central processing unit, and wherein upon the vision system detecting an actual obstacle, a location of the actual obstacle is stored in the memory device. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10  further comprising a database of potential obstacles stored in the memory device, and wherein upon the vision system detecting the actual obstacle, the central processing unit is configured to compare the actual obstacle with the database of potential obstacles to categorize the actual obstacle. 
     
     
         12 . A method of monitoring operation of an autonomous robot comprising:
 defining, with a central processing unit of the autonomous robot, a perimeter of an area of confinement;   storing the perimeter of the area of confinement within a memory device of the autonomous robot as map data;   transmitting the map data from a transceiver of the autonomous robot to a server;   overlaying, by the server, the area of confinement onto a satellite image corresponding to a geographic location that includes the area of confinement to create a visual representation of the area of confinement overlaid onto the satellite image;   transmitting, from the server to an external device, the visual representation of the area of confinement overlaid onto the satellite image; and   displaying, on a display of the external device, the visual representation of the area of confinement overlaid onto the satellite image.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising:
 transmitting, from the transceiver of the autonomous robot to the server during operation of the autonomous robot performing a task, data indicative of a location of the autonomous robot within the area of confinement at a point in time T1 during a work session; 
 transmitting the data indicative of the location of the autonomous robot within the area of confinement at the point in time T1 during the work session from the server to the external device; and 
 displaying, on the display of the external device, the data indicative of the location of the autonomous robot within the area of confinement at the point in time T1 during the work session to visually represent a status of the work session. 
 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the status of the work session comprises: (1) an indication of a current location of the autonomous robot within the area of confinement at the point in time T1 during the work session; (2) an indication of first portions of the area of confinement on which the task has been completed by the autonomous robot at the point in time T1 during the work session; and (3) an indication of second portions of the area of confinement on which the task has not yet been completed by the autonomous robot at the point in time T1 during the work session, wherein the first and second portions are visually represented in a contrasting manner on the display. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the task is cutting grass and further comprising:
 detecting, via a current sensor that is operably coupled to the central processing unit, a thickness of the grass by comparing a current value received by the current sensor to a threshold current value; 
 transmitting, from the autonomous robot to the server, data indicative of the thickness of the grass at various locations within the area of confinement; 
 transmitting, from the server to the external device, the data indicative of the thickness of the grass at various locations within the area of confinement; and 
 displaying, on the display of the external device, the data indicative of the thickness of the grass at various locations within the area of confinement to visually represent the thickness of the grass at various locations within the area of confinement. 
 
     
     
         16 . A machine comprising:
 a housing and a control system, the control system comprising a central processing unit;   a capacitive proximity sensor operably coupled to the central processing unit;   wherein upon an object having a capacitance value being detected in a surrounding area of the machine while the machine is activated, the capacitive proximity sensor detects an increase in capacitance value relative to a baseline capacitance value and transmits an increased capacitance value signal to the central processing unit; and   wherein upon receiving the increased capacitance value signal from the capacitive proximity sensor, the central processing unit deactivates the power tool.   
     
     
         17 . The machine of  claim 16  wherein upon the object no longer being in the surrounding area of the machine, the capacitive proximity sensor detects a decrease in capacitance value and the central processing unit enables the machine to be restarted. 
     
     
         18 . The machine of  claim 16  wherein the capacitive proximity sensor is a touch sensor that is operably coupled to a portion of the housing and to the central processing unit, and wherein upon an object having a capacitance value being in contact with the portion of the housing, the touch sensor detects the increase in capacitance value relative to the baseline capacitance value and transmits the increased capacitance value signal to the central processing unit. 
     
     
         19 . The machine of  claim 16  further comprising a memory device operably connected to the central processing unit, the memory device storing the baseline capacitance value of the capacitive proximity sensor. 
     
     
         20 . The machine of  claim 17  wherein the machine is an autonomous robot.