Animal Exerciser System with Spatial Profiling and Obstacle Avoidance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current systems lack an effective method to exercise and entertain animals like cats and dogs in a controlled and engaging manner, failing to provide interactive and safe environments that stimulate their natural behaviors.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a mobile device, spatial profiling device, and mobile device manager that captures spatial profiles of a motion area, locates mobile objects, and plans movements for the mobile device to avoid obstacles and interact with animals in a way that simulates natural hunting behaviors, using sensors and communication circuits to navigate and communicate navigation instructions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a mobile device is used to exercise animals, then animal engagement and entertainment are improved, but system complexity increases due to multiple components including spatial profiling devices and communication circuits
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functional components (mobile device, spatial profiling device, communication circuit, motion drive) into an integrated system where the mobile device serves as both the control unit and the interaction interface with the animal. This merging reduces overall system complexity while maintaining engagement capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The mobile device performs multiple functions including spatial profiling, obstacle detection, navigation planning, and animal interaction within a single unit. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate dedicated devices for each function, thereby reducing system complexity while enhancing adaptability.
2Reliability
If the mobile device navigates autonomously to avoid obstacles, then animal safety is improved, but measurement precision requirements increase for spatial profiling and obstacle detection
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary spatial profiling of the environment before the animal enters the motion area. This advance mapping creates a baseline spatial model that enables safer navigation without requiring real-time high-precision measurements during active play, thus reducing measurement precision requirements while maintaining safety.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary processing layer that uses sensors and spatial profiling data to create a simplified representation of the environment. This intermediary model allows the mobile device to navigate safely without directly processing raw high-precision spatial data, thereby reducing measurement precision requirements.
3Reliability
If the system uses sensors and communication circuits for real-time navigation, then obstacle avoidance capability is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs periodic sensing and navigation updates rather than continuous operation. The mobile device periodically scans the environment using sensors and updates its navigation path accordingly, which reduces energy consumption compared to continuous real-time monitoring while maintaining effective obstacle avoidance capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The mobile device uses its own onboard sensors and processing capabilities to perform obstacle detection and navigation autonomously, eliminating the need for external continuous monitoring systems. This self-service approach reduces overall system energy consumption while maintaining reliable obstacle avoidance.
Data Source
AI summary
A system comprises a mobile device, a spatial profiling device, and a mobile device manager. The mobile device comprises a platform, a first communications circuit that receives navigation instructions, and a motion drive that propels the platform according to the navigation instructions. The spatial profiling device captures a spatial profile of a motion area. The mobile device manager comprises at least one second communications circuit that communicates with the first communications circuit and the spatial profiling device, processor(s), and memory storing processing instructions. The instructions, when executed, cause the mobile device manager to receive spatial profiles, locate the mobile object, locate the mobile device, plan a movement for the mobile device which avoids the mobile object, and communicate the movement to the mobile device as navigation instructions.