Mobile delivery robot with interior cargo space
A mobile robot can include an elongated body disposed in a vertical direction and having an approximately cylindrical shape; a user interface within an upper 20 centimeters of the body and inclined to be accessible from above and in front of the robot; at least one depth sensor that is mounted at or near a top of the body and having at least one field of view; at least one container formed within the body; and a drive mechanism disposed within the body.
1. A mobile robot, comprising:
an elongated body disposed in a vertical direction and having an approximately cylindrical shape;
a user interface within an upper 20 centimeters of the body and inclined to be accessible from above and in front of the robot;
at least one depth sensor that is mounted at or near a top of the body and having at least one field of view;
at least one container formed within the body that includes a lid actuated by the robot; and
a drive mechanism disposed within the body.
2. The mobile robot of claim 1 , wherein:
the user interface comprises a touchscreen.
3. The mobile robot of claim 1 , wherein:
the at least one container is accessible from a top of the robot.
4. The mobile robot of claim 1 , wherein:
the lid opens in a direction away from the user interface.
5. The mobile robot of claim 1 , wherein:
the lid is electronically securable.
6. The mobile robot of claim 1 , wherein:
the robot travels on a surface, and
the at least one field of view includes at least a portion of a first meter of the surface in the robot's direction of travel.
7. The mobile robot of claim 6 , wherein:
the at least one field of view further includes a space directly in front of the robot in the robot's direction of travel.
8. The mobile robot of claim 1 , wherein:
the at least one container is formed within a top of the robot and the lid is electronically securable lid and opens in a direction away from the user interface; and
the robot has a center of gravity below a vertical midway point of the robot when the at least one container is empty.
9. A mobile robot, comprising:
an elongated body having a height between 0.5 and 2 meters and width no greater than a meter;
at least one depth sensor proximate a top of the body;
a user interface proximate or on the top of the body;
at least one container formed in the top of the body; and
a drive mechanism disposed within the body; wherein
the at least one container includes a lid that is actuated by the robot.
10. The mobile robot of claim 9 , wherein:
the lid opens in a direction away from the user interface.
11. The mobile robot of claim 9 , wherein:
the lid is electronically securable.
12. The mobile robot of claim 9 , wherein:
the user interface is accessible from a front of the robot; and
the lid includes a hinge at a back of the robot; wherein
the front of the robot faces the robot's direction of travel.
13. The mobile robot of claim 9 , wherein:
the body has a rounded shape in cross section;
the user interface is inclined to be accessible from above and in front of the robot;
the at least one container is accessible from a front of the robot, where the user interface is accessed, and the lid is electronically securable;
the at least one depth sensor has at least one field of view that includes at least a portion of a first meter of a surface on which the robot travels; and
the robot has a center of gravity below a vertical midway point of the robot when the at least one container is empty.
14. A mobile robot, comprising:
an elongated body with a generally round cross section;
at least one depth sensor;
a user interface proximate a top of the body;
at least one container formed within the body that includes a lid actuated by the robot; and
a drive mechanism disposed within the body; wherein
the robot has a center of gravity below a vertical midway point of the robot when the at least one container is empty.
15. The mobile robot of claim 14 , wherein:
the robot has a center of gravity below a vertical midway point of the robot when storing objects in the at least one container that weighs no more than ¼ the weight of the robot.
16. The mobile robot of claim 14 , wherein:
the at least one container is formed in a top of the robot.
17. The mobile robot of claim 14 , wherein:
the user interface comprises a touchscreen.
18. The mobile robot of claim 14 , wherein:
the user interface is disposed within an upper 20 centimeters of the body and inclined to be accessible from above and in front of the robot.
19. The mobile robot of claim 14 , wherein:
the body has a rounded shape in cross section;
the user interface is inclined to be accessible from above and in front of the robot;
the at least one container is accessible from a front of the robot where the user interface is accessed, and includes an electronically securable lid;
the at least one depth sensor has at least one field of view that includes at least a portion of a first meter of a surface on which the robot travels; and
the robot has a center of gravity below a vertical midway point of the robot when the at least one container is empty.