Navigation Using a Laser for a Mobile Robot with a Optical Sensor Array

Abstract

Mobile robot navigation using one laser source consists of a laser on the ceiling and a mobile robot. Users make a map showing the robot's travel path. Based on the map information, the laser spot is automatically irradiated on the floor by laser robot. Then, the mobile robot detects the laser spot by optical sensor array and follows the trajectory of the laser spot. The optical sensor array we developed is composed of the phototransistors arranged in a matrix and it has 96 mm × 96 mm detecting area. Optical sensor array output consisting of digital signals is acquired in real time without image processing. Digital output simplifies the control circuit. We confirmed the feasibility of our proposed system through basic navigation experiments and found that one laser source was sufficient to navigate the robot.