Infrared Source Tracking Robot with Computer Interface

Abstract

In this infrared source tracking robot system, a target has a light emitting section with a high light emitting directivity, for emitting a light beam modulated into pulses. A tracking robot has a tracking sensor section for monitoring a light beam by a pair of light receiving elements, for processing signals from the received light beam, and for generating and supplying drive control signals to a travel control section. In response to drive control signals the travel control section generates and supplies drive signals to a driver section. The driver section drives the tracking robot so that the robot advances while turning to the right when the output level of the right side light receiving element is higher than that of the left side light receiving element, and to the left when the latter is higher than the former. There are basically two modes, the first being the one in which the robot transmits the path sequence to the computer while tracking the source. In the second mode, the computer transmits the remembered path sequence to the robot which travels along the path guided by the computer signals, without any infrared source assistance.