AMR Safety Mode Switching for Narrow Corridor Navigation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing autonomous mobile robot (AMR) technology is insufficient in safely and efficiently integrating robots into fast-changing environments like warehouses and manufacturing settings, as they often abort tasks when encountering unexpected obstacles, leading to downstream inefficiencies and blockages.
Innovation Solution
The system enables AMRs to toggle their mode of operation by reducing the minimum distance required to navigate through choke points, allowing them to continue their route by switching to a slower mode when the standard safety distance cannot be maintained, thereby avoiding obstacles and maintaining operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the robot maintains a 1 meter distance from all obstacles, then safety is improved, but the robot cannot pass through narrow corridors and aborts the mission
Solution Approach 1:
The robot dynamically switches between two operational modes (first mode with 1 meter safety distance, second mode with 0.25 meter distance) based on the environment. When a narrow corridor is detected, the robot transitions from the restrictive first mode to the more permissive second mode, allowing continuous operation while adapting to spatial constraints.
Solution Approach 2:
The robot changes the minimum distance parameter from 1 meter in the first mode to 0.25 meter in the second mode. This parameter adjustment enables the robot to navigate through choke points that would otherwise be impassable, resolving the contradiction between safety distance requirements and mission completion.
2Reliability
If the robot aborts the mission when encountering a choke point, then safety distance is maintained, but downstream inefficiencies occur and the robot blocks the corridor
Solution Approach 1:
The robot autonomously determines when to switch modes without external intervention. When a choke point is detected, the robot self-manages the mode transition from first mode to second mode, allowing it to continue its mission independently without human assistance or mission abortion.
Solution Approach 2:
The operational mode is made dynamic rather than static. The robot continuously monitors its environment and adjusts its minimum distance parameter in real-time, switching to the second mode when spatial constraints are detected, thereby avoiding mission abortion and downstream inefficiencies.
3Productivity
If the robot reduces minimum distance to 0.25 meter to pass through narrow corridors, then mission completion is improved, but the robot must move very slowly
Solution Approach 1:
The robot changes multiple parameters simultaneously when switching to the second mode: the minimum distance parameter is reduced from 1 meter to 0.25 meter, and the maximum speed parameter is reduced from 10 kph to 1 kph. This coordinated parameter adjustment enables navigation through narrow corridors while managing the speed trade-off.
Solution Approach 2:
The robot dynamically adjusts its speed parameter based on the operational mode. In the second mode, the robot operates at reduced speed (1 kph maximum) to safely navigate narrow corridors with reduced safety distance, while in the first mode it can operate at higher speeds (10 kph maximum) in open spaces.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and a method are disclosed that cause a robot to traverse along a route based on a minimum distance to be maintained between the autonomous mobile robot and an obstacle corresponding to a first mode. The robot determines that the route cannot be continued without a distance between the robot and a detected obstacle becoming less than the minimum distance, and responsively determines whether the route can be continued without the distance between the robot and the detected obstacle becoming less than a second minimum distance less than the initial minimum distance, the second minimum distance corresponding to a second mode. Responsive to determining that the route can be continued without the distance between the autonomous mobile robot and the detected obstacle becoming less than the second minimum distance, the robot is configured to operate in second mode and continues traversal of the route.