Positioning technology for mobile robots and autonomous vehicles to navigate in dynamic indoor and outdoor environments without requiring infrastructure

The fast-growing mobile robotics industry requires solutions to be increasingly mobile and autonomous. For that reason a Dutch SME is specialized in the development and production of positioning sensor modules for infrastructure free navigation. Current mobile robotic systems require recognizable landmarks in the environment. Instead of the landmarks the positioning technology of the Dutch SME uses an advanced optical technology that scans the floor surface. The optical technology determines the movement, position and orientation of the robot or vehicle, which is communicated to the navigation system. Important features of the offered technology are the measurement principle reaching absolute position and the way of operation. The measurement principle reaching absolute position can be described by: • Advanced optical system, using the floor surface as a reference. • Determines location, orientation and movement. The way of operation can be described by: • Infrastructure free, no markers and position immediately found after first initial learning phase. • Robust in coping with gradual floor changes (wear and dirt). • Immediate deployment of additional robots in the same operation. • Sensor data is continuously improved and shared between sensor systems for robustness and fast implementation and scaling Technical specifications: • Accuracy: Relative more than 99,8 %. Absolute 10 millimetres continuous, better than 1 millimetre at areas of interest. • Geometry of the industrial sensor module: 1 single sensor module of 2,5 kilogram, volume of 85x135x320 millimetre, • Vehicle speed: up to 2 meters per second. • Data refresh rate: 100Hz. • Area: 40.000 square meter learned areas, higher on request. • Power consumption: Less than 30 Watt. • Environment: Indoor & outdoor industrial surfaces and climate; operating temperature between – 10 Celsius and +50 Celsius, • International Protection Rating code IP65 (IP67 on request), no impact from external light. The sensor module can easily be integrated in existing mobile robots and automatic guided vehicles. The Dutch SME has a small quantity on stock. The delivery time is to the utmost 4 weeks from order. The Dutch SME is interested in commercial agreements with technical assistance with system integrators or manufacturers of robots and autonomous vehicles. The Dutch SME offers the positioning sensor module for infrastructure free navigation. The partner desired should be the system integrator or the manufacturer of the mobile robot or the autonomous or automatic guided vehicle that is interested in accurate indoor and outdoor positioning without requiring infrastructure.