AMR Perception Testing With Dynamometer and Robotic Gantry
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need for controllable, repeatable, and efficient testing systems and methods to facilitate safe and reliable operations of automated or robotic vehicles within a material handling facility, particularly for testing perception systems and safety responses of autonomous mobile robots.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a dynamometer, robotic gantry, and enclosure is used to test autonomous mobile robots, where the robot is positioned on the dynamometer and instructed to perform navigation maneuvers while stationary, with the dynamometer measuring movements and a robotic gantry simulating object movements based on inverse kinematics to test perception and safety responses under controlled conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If traditional testing methods are used for autonomous mobile robots, then the testing process requires large physical spaces and extensive resources, but this leads to increased testing costs, reduced efficiency, and inability to provide controlled and repeatable test conditions
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of moving the robot through a large physical facility for testing, the patent inverts the approach by keeping the robot stationary on a dynamometer and moving test objects around it using a robotic manipulator. This inversion transforms a space-intensive testing method into a compact, controlled system that achieves the same testing objectives without requiring large physical spaces or extensive resources
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a robotic manipulator as an intermediary to move test objects around the stationary robot. This intermediary component enables controlled and repeatable testing scenarios without requiring the robot to physically traverse large spaces, thereby improving testing efficiency while maintaining system manageability through automated object positioning
2Reliability
If autonomous mobile robots are tested in real facility environments, then diverse operational scenarios can be observed, but the testing lacks control and repeatability needed for reliable safety validation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a robotic manipulator that can dynamically position test objects at various locations around the stationary robot, enabling controlled simulation of different operational scenarios. This dynamic positioning capability allows the system to maintain reliability through controlled, repeatable testing while preserving adaptability by programmatically adjusting object positions and test conditions as needed
3Reliability
If comprehensive safety testing is performed with multiple objects and environmental conditions, then perception system reliability improves, but testing time and resource consumption increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements continuous automated testing by having the robotic manipulator systematically move test objects through various positions around the robot without interruption. The dynamometer continuously monitors robot responses, and the control system automatically adjusts test parameters, enabling comprehensive safety validation across multiple objects and conditions to be performed efficiently without significant time loss or resource consumption increases
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods to test autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) may include a dynamometer, a robotic system carrying an object, and a control system. An AMR under test may be positioned on the dynamometer and instructed to perform navigation maneuvers, which may be detected by the dynamometer. The control system may receive the detected movements and determine corresponding movements for the robotic system using inverse kinematics. Then, the control system may instruct movement of the object via the robotic system based on the corresponding movements. Using such test systems and methods, perception systems and responses by safety, navigation, and/or drive systems of AMRs may be tested in a controlled, robust, and repeatable manner.