Adaptive Audio-Visual Perception for Robot Control Units
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current robot control units face limitations in effectively capturing and processing audio and visual cues from humans interacting with robots, particularly in situations where the human is not positioned optimally, leading to suboptimal human-robot interaction due to restricted camera and microphone capabilities.
Innovation Solution
An audio-visual perception system comprising an audio perception module, a visual perception module, and a processing and control module that adaptively switch between different working modes based on sensory signals, allowing for improved capture and processing of audio and visual cues from subjects, including humans, animals, or objects, enabling enhanced human-robot interaction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a robot control unit is equipped with fixed camera and microphone capabilities, then the device structure is simple, but the ability to capture audio and visual cues from humans in various positions is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic switching between multiple camera and microphone working modes based on real-time audio and visual signal analysis. The system transitions from a static fixed-capability design to a dynamic adaptive system where the perception modules automatically adjust their operating parameters (such as switching between different microphones or cameras) according to the detected human position and interaction context, thereby resolving the contradiction between adaptability and structural simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes operational parameters of the audio and visual perception modules dynamically. Different microphones and cameras are activated based on detected parameters such as human distance, angle, and interaction type. This parameter switching enables the system to adapt to various human positions without requiring a completely complex fixed structure, thus improving versatility while managing device complexity through software-based parameter adjustment rather than hardware complexity.
2Measurement precision
If the audio and visual perception modules operate in fixed modes, then the system is easy to control, but the quality of audio and visual perception is suboptimal for different human positions
Solution Approach 1:
The audio and visual perception modules operate autonomously by self-adjusting their working modes based on real-time signal analysis. The system performs self-optimization by automatically selecting the most appropriate microphones and cameras without requiring manual intervention or complex user control. This self-service mechanism maintains ease of operation (no manual configuration needed) while significantly improving measurement precision through adaptive perception quality adjustment.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements a feedback loop where audio and visual signals are continuously analyzed to determine optimal working modes for the perception modules. The processing unit receives signals from the modules, evaluates the current situation (human position, interaction type), and provides feedback control instructions to switch between different microphones or cameras. This closed-loop feedback mechanism ensures high measurement precision while keeping the system easy to operate through automated adaptive control.
Data Source
AI summary
An audio-visual perception system includes an audio perception module and a visual perception module, respectively receiving sounds and images of a subject and converting them into audio and visual signals. At least one of the above two modules is a first perception module having more than one working mode. A processing and control module controls the first perception module to switch a working mode thereof based on the audio or visual signals received from one of the two above modules other than the first perception module. An audio-visual perception apparatus having the audio-visual perception system is also disclosed, which can be used as a robot control unit (RCU) mounted onto a robot, allowing a human-in-the-loop robot operator to visually and audibly monitor the subject in a surrounding of the robot. The RCU can switch between a RCU mode and a cell phone mode.