Master system and autonomous mobile robot

Abstract

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a master control system and an autonomous mobile robot, the master control system comprising: a computing power module; at least one network communication module electrically connected to the computing power module and adapted to communicate with a first external device; at least one expansion interface electrically connected to the computing power module; a real-time data processing module electrically connected to at least one sensor and adapted to preprocess data collected by the at least one sensor; a network switching module electrically connected to the real-time data processing module and the computing power module, the network switching module being adapted to transmit the data preprocessed by the real-time data processing module to the computing power module for post-processing; and a power management module electrically connected to the real-time data processing module and adapted to supply power to the master control system.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The embodiments disclosed herein relate generally to the field of robotic equipment technology, and more specifically, to a master control system and an autonomous mobile robot. Background Technology

[0002] With the rapid development of industrial automation, robotics, and intelligent equipment, the requirements for main control systems in terms of functionality, complexity, and performance are constantly increasing.

[0003] However, conventional master control systems are complex in structure and cumbersome in wiring, resulting in insufficient data transmission efficiency. Furthermore, they lack the capability for real-time data processing, especially for sensor data with high real-time requirements. In addition, conventional master control systems lack power management flexibility, failing to effectively manage battery charging and discharging states and system power. Moreover, their system scalability is poor, unable to effectively support the integration of external devices such as peripherals or sensors. This leads to reduced reliability, increased maintenance costs, and performance that fails to meet expectations. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The purpose of this disclosure is to provide a master control system and an autonomous mobile robot to at least partially solve the above-mentioned problems.

[0005] In a first aspect of this disclosure, embodiments of this disclosure provide a main control system comprising: a computing power module; at least one network communication module electrically connected to the computing power module and adapted to communicate with a first external device; at least one expansion interface electrically connected to the computing power module; a real-time data processing module electrically connected to at least one sensor and adapted to preprocess data collected by the at least one sensor; a network switching module electrically connected to the real-time data processing module and electrically connected to the computing power module, the network switching module being adapted to transmit data preprocessed by the real-time data processing module to the computing power module for post-processing; and a power management module electrically connected to the real-time data processing module and adapted to supply power to the main control system.

[0006] According to embodiments of this disclosure, the computing module is electrically connected to at least one network communication module, at least one expansion interface, and a network switching module, and is electrically connected to a real-time data processing module and a power management module through the network switching module. In this manner, the main control system adopts a communication topology, significantly simplifying the internal wiring structure of the main control system, improving data transmission efficiency, reducing the complexity of the main control system, and thus enhancing the stability and reliability of the main control system.

[0007] In some embodiments, the real-time data processing module is electrically connected to the computing power module, and the power management module is electrically connected to the computing power module.

[0008] In some embodiments, the power management module includes a power management chip and a battery, the power management chip being electrically connected to the battery, and the power management chip being electrically connected to the real-time data processing module and the computing power module.

[0009] In some embodiments, the power management module further includes at least one electrical switch, the battery is electrically connected to the at least one electrical switch, and the power management chip is electrically connected to the at least one electrical switch to switch the on / off state of the at least one electrical switch.

[0010] In some embodiments, the power management module further includes at least one DC-DC converter chip, the battery is electrically connected to the at least one DC-DC converter chip, and the power management chip is electrically connected to the at least one DC-DC converter chip to control the operation of the at least one DC-DC converter chip.

[0011] In some embodiments, the network switching module includes a network switching chip and at least one network interface. The network switching chip is electrically connected to the real-time data processing module and the computing power module. The at least one network interface is electrically connected to the network switching chip and is adapted to communicate with a second external device.

[0012] In some embodiments, the main control system further includes at least two parallel data processing modules, which are electrically connected to at least two cameras and adapted to process data acquired by the at least two cameras. The at least two parallel data processing modules are also electrically connected to the computing power module and adapted to transmit the processed data to the computing power module.

[0013] In some embodiments, each of the at least two parallel data processing modules includes a pair of parallel data processing chips and a connector, wherein each pair of parallel data processing chips is electrically connected to a corresponding connector, and the connector is electrically connected to a corresponding camera.

[0014] In some embodiments, the main control system further includes a storage hard disk electrically connected to the computing module and adapted to store media for operation of the main control system.

[0015] In a second aspect of this disclosure, an autonomous mobile robot is provided, comprising: any of the master control systems according to the first aspect of this disclosure.

[0016] It should be understood that the description in this section is not intended to limit the key or essential features of the embodiments of this disclosure, nor is it intended to restrict the scope of this disclosure. Other features of this disclosure will become readily apparent from the following description. Attached Figure Description

[0017] The above and other features, advantages, and aspects of the embodiments of this disclosure will become more apparent from the accompanying drawings and the following detailed description. In the drawings, the same or similar reference numerals denote the same or similar elements, wherein:

[0018] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the structure of a master control system according to some embodiments of the present disclosure is shown.

[0019] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures:

[0020] 100 is the main control system;

[0021] 1 is the computing power module; 2 is the network communication module; 3 is the expansion interface; 31 is the expansion chip.

[0022] 4 is the real-time data processing module;

[0023] 5 is the network switching module, 51 is the network switching chip, and 52 is the network interface;

[0024] 6 is the power management module, 61 is the power management chip, 62 is the battery, 63 is the electrical switch, and 64 is the DC-DC conversion chip;

[0025] 7 is the parallel data processing module, 71 is the parallel data processing chip, and 72 is the connector;

[0026] 8 represents the hard drive; 9 represents the CAN bus. Detailed Implementation

[0027] Preferred embodiments of the present disclosure will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. While preferred embodiments of the present disclosure are shown in the drawings, it should be understood that the present disclosure may be implemented in various forms and should not be limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that the present disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the present disclosure to those skilled in the art.

[0028] The term "comprising" and its variations as used herein signify open inclusion, i.e., "including but not limited to". Unless otherwise stated, the term "or" means "and / or". The term "based on" means "at least partially based on". The terms "one example embodiment" and "one embodiment" mean "at least one example embodiment". The term "another embodiment" means "at least one additional embodiment". The terms "first", "second", etc., may refer to different or the same objects.

[0029] As described above, conventional master control systems are complex in structure, cumbersome in wiring, and have insufficient data transmission efficiency. Furthermore, conventional master control systems lack the ability to process real-time data, especially sensor data with high real-time requirements. In addition, conventional master control systems lack power management flexibility, for example, they cannot effectively manage the battery's charging and discharging state and the overall system power. Moreover, conventional master control systems have poor system scalability and cannot effectively support the access of external devices such as peripherals or sensors. This leads to reduced reliability, increased maintenance costs, and performance that fails to meet expectations. Embodiments of this disclosure provide a master control system and an autonomous mobile robot to at least partially solve the above problems. In the following, [the following will be combined with...] Figure 1 The principles of this disclosure are described.

[0030] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the structure of a master control system 100 according to some embodiments of the present disclosure is shown. For example... Figure 1 As shown, in some embodiments, the main control system 100 includes a computing module 1. The computing module 1 has a high degree of integration, which helps to reduce its size and has low power consumption and high reliability. The computing module 1 uses a high-performance computing chip and can undertake functions such as software operation, data processing, and peripheral communication control in the entire main control system 100.

[0031] refer to Figure 1 Furthermore, the main control system 100 also includes at least one network communication module 2. The at least one network communication module 2 is electrically connected to the computing module 1. The at least one network communication module 2 is adapted to communicate with a first external device to enable data transmission and communication between the main control system 100 and the first external device, such as an external network device and a host computer, thereby realizing real-time data uploading and remote control functions.

[0032] The network communication module 2 according to embodiments of this disclosure can be of various types known or available in the future, and the embodiments of this disclosure do not limit this. For example, in some embodiments, at least one network communication module 2 may include a Wi-Fi module and a fourth-generation mobile communication technology (4G) module.

[0033] It should be noted that the numbers, values, and quantities mentioned above, as well as elsewhere in this disclosure, are exemplary and are not intended to limit the scope of this disclosure in any way. Any other suitable numbers, values, and quantities are possible. For example, depending on the specific application scenario and requirements, the network communication module 2 may include more or fewer modules.

[0034] refer to Figure 1Furthermore, the main control system 100 also includes at least one expansion interface 3. The at least one expansion interface 3 is electrically connected to the computing module 1, and the expansion interface 3 can be used for internal debugging, peripheral connection and internal data transmission functions.

[0035] The extension interface 3 according to the embodiments of this disclosure can be of various types known now or available in the future, and the embodiments of this disclosure do not limit it.

[0036] For example, refer to Figure 1 In some embodiments, at least one expansion interface 3 may include an HDMI interface, a USB Type-C interface, and multiple USB hub interfaces. The HDMI interface and the USB Type-C interface are electrically connected to the computing module 1 and are used for internal debugging and internal data transmission functions. The expansion chip 31 is electrically connected to the computing module 1 and to the multiple USB hub interfaces, so as to expand one interface into multiple USB hub interfaces through the expansion chip 31. The USB hub interfaces can be used for peripheral connection. In this way, the expansion performance of the main control system 100 is improved, effectively supporting more peripherals to be connected to the main control system 100.

[0037] refer to Figure 1 In some embodiments, the main control system 100 further includes a real-time data processing module 4 and a network switching module 5. The real-time data processing module 4 is electrically connected to at least one sensor and is adapted to preprocess data acquired by at least one sensor. (Continue to refer to...) Figure 1 The network switching module 5 is electrically connected to the real-time data processing module 4 and also electrically connected to the computing power module 1. The network switching module 5 is adapted to transmit data preprocessed by the real-time data processing module 4 to the computing power module 1 for post-processing.

[0038] According to embodiments of this disclosure, the real-time data processing module 4 can acquire data from at least one sensor in real time and provide accurate timestamp synchronization. After the real-time data processing module 4 preprocesses the data acquired by at least one sensor, the network switching module 5 transmits the data to the computing module 1 for post-processing. In this way, on the one hand, the real-time performance of the main control system 100 can be improved, and the problem of weak real-time performance of the computing module 1 can be solved; in addition, the processing capability of the main control system 100 for real-time data is effectively improved, and data transmission latency is reduced, thereby effectively avoiding problems such as data frame loss or delay. On the other hand, the real-time data processing module 4 can perform initialization configuration and configuration management for the at least one connected sensor, thereby improving the stability of the main control system 100.

[0039] The sensors according to embodiments of this disclosure can be of various types, currently known or available in the future, and the embodiments of this disclosure are not limited thereto. For example, refer to Figure 1 In some embodiments, at least one sensor may include a radar and a gyroscope. In this way, the real-time data processing module 4 can acquire data from the radar and gyroscope in real time. Furthermore, the real-time data processing module 4 can also be electrically connected to an LED light, such as an RGB light strip, to acquire data from a light-emitting diode (LED) light in real time. It should be noted that the main control system 100 can easily integrate multiple sensors to meet the needs of different application scenarios.

[0040] refer to Figure 1 In some embodiments, the power management module 6 is electrically connected to the real-time data processing module 4 and is adapted to supply power to the main control system 100.

[0041] According to embodiments of this disclosure, the computing module 1 is electrically connected to at least one network communication module 2, at least one expansion interface 3, and a network switching module 5, and is electrically connected to a real-time data processing module 4 and a power management module 6 through the network switching module 5. In this manner, the main control system 100 adopts a communication topology, significantly simplifying the internal wiring structure of the main control system 100, improving data transmission efficiency, reducing the complexity of the main control system 100, thereby enhancing the stability and reliability of the main control system 100.

[0042] refer to Figure 1 Furthermore, the real-time data processing module 4 is electrically connected to the computing module 1, and the power management module 6 is electrically connected to the computing module 1 to enable internal communication between the real-time data processing module 4, the computing module 1, and the power management module 6. For example, continue to refer to Figure 1 In some embodiments, the real-time data processing module 4 can be electrically connected to the computing module 1 via the controller local area network (CAN) bus 9, and the power management module 6 can also be electrically connected to the computing module 1 via the controller local area network (CAN) bus 9. This significantly simplifies the wiring structure within the main control system 100, improves data transmission efficiency, reduces the complexity of the main control system 100, and thus enhances the stability and reliability of the main control system 100.

[0043] refer to Figure 1 In some embodiments, the main control system 100 may further include a storage hard disk 8. The storage hard disk 8 is electrically connected to the computing module 1. The storage hard disk 8 is adapted to store media such as operating software, firmware programs, and related system data for the main control system 100 to ensure the stable and reliable operation of the main control system 100.

[0044] refer to Figure 1In some embodiments, the network switching module 5 may include a network switching chip 51 and at least one network interface 52. The network switching chip 51 can be electrically connected to the real-time data processing module 4 and the computing module 1, thus enabling high-speed data transmission between the computing module 1, the real-time data processing module 4, the power management module 6, and the expansion interface 3. At least one network interface 52 can be electrically connected to the network switching chip 51 and is adapted to communicate with a second external device. The network interface 52 may include, for example, an RJ45 network interface and supports Gigabit Ethernet communication, thereby enabling high-speed and stable data exchange with the second external device. Furthermore, the network switching chip 51 features high integration and, through optimized internal wiring, improves internal data transmission efficiency and communication stability.

[0045] refer to Figure 1 In some embodiments, the power management module 6 may include a power management chip 61 and a battery 62. The power management chip 61 can be electrically connected to the battery 62, for example, through communication using the RS-485 serial bus standard. The power management chip 61 can perform functions such as charging and discharging management, status monitoring, and power control of the battery 62, specifically including battery power communication, battery status detection, power-on / off timing control, emergency stop, and power-on control. For example, the power management chip 61 can be electrically connected to an emergency stop button or a power-on button to achieve emergency stop and power-on control. In this way, the main control system 100 has flexible and efficient power management capabilities, optimizes the charging and discharging process and power-on / off timing, thereby significantly improving the energy efficiency and safety of the main control system 100.

[0046] Continue to refer to Figure 1 Furthermore, the power management chip 61 can be electrically connected to the real-time data processing module 4 and to the computing module 1 via the CAN bus 9 to realize the communication function of the main control system 100. In this way, the internal wiring structure of the main control system 100 is significantly simplified, the data transmission efficiency is improved, and the complexity of the main control system 100 is reduced, thereby improving the stability and reliability of the main control system 100.

[0047] Continue to refer to Figure 1 In some embodiments, the power management module 6 may further include at least one electrical switch 63. The battery 62 may be electrically connected to at least one electrical switch 63. The power management chip 61 may be electrically connected to at least one electrical switch 63 to switch the on / off state of the at least one electrical switch 63. The at least one electrical switch 63 may be electrically connected to an external device such as a motor. In this way, the power management chip 61 can control the on / off state of at least one electrical switch 63, thereby controlling the battery 62 to supply power to an external device such as a motor.

[0048] Continue to refer to Figure 1 In some embodiments, the power management module 6 may further include at least one DC-DC converter chip 64. The battery 62 may be electrically connected to at least one DC-DC converter chip 64. The power management chip 61 may be electrically connected to at least one DC-DC converter chip 64 to control the operation of the at least one DC-DC converter chip 64. The at least one DC-DC converter chip 64 may be electrically connected to the system power supply in the main control system 100. In this way, the power management chip 61 can control the operation of at least one DC-DC converter chip 64 and output different DC voltages, such as 15V and / or 5V, thereby powering the battery 62 to the various electronic components in the main control system 100 and realizing the management of the system power supply.

[0049] refer to Figure 1 In some embodiments, the main control system 100 may further include at least two parallel data processing modules 7. The at least two parallel data processing modules 7 may be electrically connected to at least two cameras and are adapted to process data acquired by the at least two cameras. The at least two parallel data processing modules 7 may be electrically connected to the computing power module 1 and are adapted to transmit the processed data to the computing power module 1.

[0050] refer to Figure 1 Furthermore, each of the at least two parallel data processing modules 7 may include a pair of parallel data processing chips 71 and a connector 72. The pair of parallel data processing chips 71 may be electrically connected to the corresponding connector 72, and the connector 72 may be electrically connected to the corresponding camera to receive and process data acquired by at least two cameras.

[0051] In summary, the main control system 100 according to the embodiments of this disclosure has a compact structure, high data transmission efficiency, strong real-time performance, flexible power management, and good scalability.

[0052] Embodiments of this disclosure also provide an autonomous mobile robot, which includes any of the master control systems 100 described above.

[0053] According to embodiments of this disclosure, the computing module 1 is electrically connected to at least one network communication module 2, at least one expansion interface 3, and a network switching module 5, and is electrically connected to a real-time data processing module 4 and a power management module 6 through the network switching module 5. In this manner, the main control system 100 adopts a communication topology, significantly simplifying the internal wiring structure of the main control system 100, improving data transmission efficiency, reducing the complexity of the main control system 100, thereby enhancing the stability and reliability of the main control system 100.

[0054] The various embodiments of this disclosure have been described above. These descriptions are exemplary and not exhaustive, and are not limited to the disclosed embodiments. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the described embodiments. The terminology used herein is chosen to best explain the principles, practical application, or technical improvements to the embodiments in the market, or to enable others skilled in the art to understand the embodiments disclosed herein.

Claims

1. A main control system (100), comprising: Computing power module (1); At least one network communication module (2) is electrically connected to the computing module (1) and is adapted to communicate with a first external device; At least one expansion interface (3) is electrically connected to the computing module (1); A real-time data processing module (4) is electrically connected to at least one sensor and is adapted to preprocess the data collected by the at least one sensor; as well as The network switching module (5) is electrically connected to the real-time data processing module (4) and the computing power module (1). The network switching module (5) is adapted to transmit the data preprocessed by the real-time data processing module (4) to the computing power module (1) for post-processing. as well as The power management module (6) is electrically connected to the real-time data processing module (4) and is adapted to supply power to the main control system (100).

2. The main control system (100) according to claim 1, wherein the real-time data processing module (4) is electrically connected to the computing power module (1), and the power management module (6) is electrically connected to the computing power module (1).

3. The main control system (100) according to claim 2, wherein the power management module (6) includes a power management chip (61) and a battery (62), the power management chip (61) is electrically connected to the battery (62), and the power management chip (61) is electrically connected to the real-time data processing module (4) and the computing power module (1).

4. The main control system (100) according to claim 3, wherein the power management module (6) further includes at least one electrical switch (63), the battery (62) is electrically connected to the at least one electrical switch (63), and the power management chip (61) is electrically connected to the at least one electrical switch (63) to switch the on / off state of the at least one electrical switch (63).

5. The main control system (100) according to claim 3, wherein the power management module (6) further includes at least one DC-DC converter chip (64), the battery (62) is electrically connected to the at least one DC-DC converter chip (64), and the power management chip (61) is electrically connected to the at least one DC-DC converter chip (64) to control the operation of the at least one DC-DC converter chip (64).

6. The main control system (100) according to claim 1, wherein the network switching module (5) includes a network switching chip (51) and at least one network interface (52), the network switching chip (51) is electrically connected to the real-time data processing module (4) and the computing power module (1), and the at least one network interface (52) is electrically connected to the network switching chip (51) and is adapted to communicate with a second external device.

7. The main control system (100) according to claim 1, wherein the main control system (100) further includes at least two parallel data processing modules (7), the at least two parallel data processing modules (7) are electrically connected to at least two cameras and are adapted to process the data collected by the at least two cameras, the at least two parallel data processing modules (7) are electrically connected to the computing power module (1) and are adapted to transmit the processed data to the computing power module (1).

8. The main control system (100) according to claim 7, wherein each of the at least two parallel data processing modules (7) includes a pair of parallel data processing chips (71) and a connector (72), the pair of parallel data processing chips (71) being electrically connected to the corresponding connector (72), and the connector (72) being electrically connected to the corresponding camera.

9. The main control system (100) according to claim 1, wherein the main control system (100) further includes a storage hard disk (8), the storage hard disk (8) being electrically connected to the computing module (1) and adapted to store media for operation of the main control system (100).

10. An autonomous mobile robot, comprising a main control system (100) according to any one of claims 1-9.

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