Amazon.com, Inc.
Active braking system for an autonomous mobile device

Abstract:

An autonomous mobile device (AMD) includes an active braking circuit able to quickly stop the movement of the AMD. For example, the device may stop to avoid an obstacle, upon determining a failure of an internal component, upon receipt of a command, and so forth. Responsive to a signal to stop, an active braking circuit uses sensor data from a driving motor moving with a first rotation to actively commutate that motor to an opposite rotation, bringing the AMD quickly to a stop. In some implementations, the active braking circuit may include an independent power source and motor drivers and operate as a backup to a primary braking system.