Autonomous Anti-collision System for Surface Integration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing anti-collision systems for moving bodies, such as birds and vehicles, are inefficient in energy consumption and not compact enough for integration into surfaces like windows, leading to suboptimal performance in preventing collisions.
Innovation Solution
An autonomous anti-collision system with a hierarchical structure that includes an energy-harvesting unit, a sensing unit, a first computing unit for detection, a second computing unit for collision probability estimation, and a deterrence unit, which are only activated when necessary to minimize energy consumption and compactness, allowing efficient integration into surfaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the system activates the deterrence unit whenever an object is detected in the field of view, then the collision prevention coverage is maximized, but the energy consumption increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the parameter of deterrence activation from a binary state (always on when object detected) to a probabilistic state (activated based on computed collision probability). The second computing unit calculates collision probability based on object trajectory, speed, and position, and the deterrence unit is activated only when this probability exceeds a threshold, thereby reducing energy consumption while maintaining effective collision prevention
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of applying full deterrence action continuously whenever an object is detected, the system applies partial action by computing collision probability and activating deterrence only when necessary (when probability exceeds threshold). This partial activation strategy reduces energy consumption while maintaining sufficient collision prevention coverage
2Ease of manufacture
If the system uses a parallelepiped shape design, then the internal components can be easily arranged, but the system becomes not compact and difficult to integrate into surfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The system embeds the sensing unit, computing units, and deterrence unit within a compact housing that integrates into the surface structure. The components are nested within each other and the housing, creating a space-efficient configuration that maintains ease of assembly while achieving compact form factor suitable for surface integration
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from a three-dimensional parallelepiped volume to a two-dimensional surface-integrated configuration. By flattening the system architecture and arranging components in layers within a thin housing, the system achieves compactness in the volume dimension while maintaining manufacturability through standardized surface mounting techniques
3Measurement precision
If the second computing unit continuously computes collision probability, then the collision detection accuracy is maximized, but the energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The second computing unit computes collision probability periodically based on object motion dynamics rather than continuously. The computation is triggered by changes in object position, speed, or trajectory detected by the sensing unit, allowing the system to maintain accurate collision probability assessment while reducing computational frequency and energy consumption during periods of stable object motion
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system optimizes energy usage and compactness, ensuring efficient deterrence of moving bodies from colliding with surfaces by only activating units when needed, thereby enhancing the system's ability to prevent collisions while being easily integrated into windows.
Implementation Method 1
an energy-harvesting unit for harvesting energy necessary to the autonomous functioning of the system
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
AI summary
The present invention concerns an autonomous anti-collision system (1) for avoiding a collision between a target moving body (3) and a surface (2), the system comprising: an energy-harvesting unit (10) for harvesting energy necessary to the functioning of the system, a sensing unit (11) for taking images of the surrounding environment, a first computing unit (12) connected to the sensing unit (11) for detecting a moving body in the surrounding environment and determining if the moving body is the target moving body (3), and for generating a first output if the moving body is the target moving body (3), a second computing unit (13) connected to the first computing unit (12), for estimating a position, a speed and/or a trajectory of the target moving body (3) based on the images from the sensing unit (11) and on the detection from the first computing unit (12), and for computing a probability of collision of the target moving body (3) with the surface based on the position, the speed and/or the trajectory, the second computing unit (13) being triggered based on the first output, a deterrence unit (14) connected to the second computing unit (13) for deterring the target moving body (3) from colliding with the surface (2), the deterrence unit (14) being triggered based on the collision probability. The anti-collision system (1) allows to minimize its energy consumption.