A path fusing and planning method for a passing region, a robot, and a chip. The robot searches for candidate paths for fusion in a narrow channel having many obstacles distributed therein in advance, and then uses a path fusing and planning method to fuse a heuristic search algorithm and the candidate routes satisfying a search condition, so as to plan an overall navigation path.

A returning method of a self-moving device, a self-moving device are provided. In the returning method, a self-moving device autonomously moves inside a working region based on a map. Specifically, the method includes: acquiring a current position of the self-moving device in the working region; selecting a return path to a target position according to the current position; determining a reuse status of the return path, determining, based on the reuse status of the return path, whether to reselect a return path; and enabling the self-moving device to return to the target position along the selected return path.

A method of operating a mobile robot includes generating a segmentation map defining respective regions of a surface based on occupancy data that is collected by a mobile robot responsive to navigation of the surface, identifying sub-regions of at least one of the respective regions as non-clutter and clutter areas, and computing a coverage pattern based on identification of the sub-regions. The coverage pattern indicates a sequence for navigation of the non-clutter and clutter areas, and is provided to the mobile robot. Responsive to the coverage pattern, the mobile robot sequentially navigates the non-clutter and clutter areas of the at least one of the respective regions of the surface in the sequence indicated by the coverage pattern. Related methods, computing devices, and computer program products are also discussed.

A method and apparatus of generating a path for autonomous navigation of a mobile computing apparatus is provided. The mobile computing apparatus includes one or more processors configured to map a set global path, which connects a current position of the mobile computing apparatus with a future destination of the mobile computing apparatus based on a topology map, to a real-time generated occupancy grid map that represents, based on sensor data of a surrounding environment of the mobile computing apparatus, an un-drivable area and a drivable area in the surrounding environment, and generate a local path, for a traveling of the mobile computing apparatus, connecting the current position with a sub-waypoint that corresponds to the drivable area in response to a next waypoint, to which the mobile computing apparatus is set to travel based on the global path, being determined to correspond to the un-drivable area.

A map updating technique offers the performance advantages gained by robots using a good-quality static map for autonomous navigation within an environment, while providing the convenience of automatic updating. In particular, one or more robots log data while performing autonomous navigation in the environment according to the static map, and a computer appliance, such as a centralized server, collects the logged data as historic logged data, and performs a map update process using the historic logged data. Such operations provide for periodic or as needed updating of the static map, based on observational data from the robot(s) that capture changes in the environment, without need for taking the robot(s) offline for the computation.

A navigation device provides for autonomous interactions with animals and navigation of the animal environment, such as a poultry barn. The navigation device includes one or more cameras for detecting animals. The navigation device also includes one or more cameras for object detection purposes. The navigation device also includes a camera or a LiDAR for mapping the position and orientation (pose) of the navigation device within the environment. By the object detection and the pose information, the navigation device autonomously travels within the environment. The navigation device also includes a spinner assembly for deterring animals from the path of the navigation device.

A method of associating at least one asset with a bounded region in a yard is presented, the method including determining a virtual map of the yard including one or more bounded regions, bounded regions of the one or more bounded regions being regions in the yard where the at least one asset may be placed; determining a correspondence between points on the virtual map and coordinates in the yard; receiving an image from an image sensor positioned in the yard, the image including one or more assets; based on a pose of the image sensor, the correspondence, and positions of the one or more bounded regions, determining, the positions of the one or more bounded regions in the image; updating the virtual map to indicate that at least one asset is present within the first bounded region.

One aspect of an autonomous traveling device includes: an information adding unit that adds, as positional information of a virtual obstacle, to map information, positional information of a virtual obstacle that passes through a rear side of the device with respect to a starting point of a travel route and continuously extends to a front side on both right and left sides of the device itself; and a route search unit that searches for a travel route based on the map information to which the positional information of the virtual obstacle is added.

In order to achieve the purpose, a robotic cleaner according to an aspect of the present disclosure includes: a traveling unit for moving a body in a traveling region; a distance measuring sensor for acquiring distance sensing information about a distance to an object outside the body; and a control unit which generates a grid map about the traveling region from the distance sensing information, performs, when dividing the traveling region into a plurality of sub-areas, ray casting on a plurality of traveling nodes on a path of the grid map with respect to each sub-area to search for an open space, and sets an open node for the open space to calculate a topology graph between the traveling nodes and the open node. Therefore, efficiency can be improved by minimizing unnecessary traveling when traveling for searching for a space in which additional traveling is required. Furthermore, avoidance traveling can be reduced by setting the cleaner to travel along the center of a passage during additional search traveling.

A method of operating a mobile robot includes generating a segmentation map defining respective regions of a surface based on occupancy data that is collected by a mobile robot responsive to navigation of the surface, identifying sub-regions of at least one of the respective regions as non-clutter and clutter areas, and computing a coverage pattern based on identification of the sub-regions. The coverage pattern indicates a sequence for navigation of the non-clutter and clutter areas, and is provided to the mobile robot. Responsive to the coverage pattern, the mobile robot sequentially navigates the non-clutter and clutter areas of the at least one of the respective regions of the surface in the sequence indicated by the coverage pattern. Related methods, computing devices, and computer program products are also discussed.