Arcuate LED Tracking Signal for Human-Robot Safety
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current motion detection systems in industrial environments, while capable of detecting human presence, fail to provide clear visual feedback to individuals about being detected by robots, limiting human-robot interaction and safety awareness.
Innovation Solution
A visual tracking system using an arcuate illumination device with angularly variable output, aligned with the detected target, provides a continuous visual signal indicating the target's location to ensure awareness and safety, potentially covering 180° to 360° around the robot.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If a display screen is used to visually indicate detected objects, then visual feedback is provided, but the display cannot provide immediate location-specific indication, has limited view angle, is difficult to read from distance, and incurs high computational overhead
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the essential function of visual feedback from complex display screens and reduces it to simple LED indicators arranged in an arcuate pattern. Each LED corresponds to a specific angular position, providing location-specific feedback without the computational burden of displaying images or processing complex visual information.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces expensive, computationally intensive display screens with inexpensive LED indicators. These simple visual elements provide sufficient feedback for safety purposes without requiring significant computational resources or expensive hardware infrastructure.
2Loss of information
If audible detection indicators are used, then detection feedback is provided, but they are unsuitable for noisy industrial environments and cannot provide location-specific feedback
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a visual feedback system using LED indicators that directly correspond to the spatial location of detected objects. The arcuate arrangement of LEDs provides immediate, unambiguous visual feedback about object position, angle, and detection status, which is not affected by ambient noise in industrial environments.
3Loss of information
If display screens are used around the robot, then visual indication is provided, but individuals may ignore the content as irrelevant and screens are costly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by providing detection feedback specifically at the location where it is most relevant - directly to the detected individual through location-specific LED indicators. Each LED's position in the arcuate arrangement corresponds to the angular position of a detected object, providing personalized, relevant feedback that cannot be ignored.
4Adaptability or versatility
If a full 360° display system is implemented, then complete coverage is provided, but the system becomes more complex and costly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the visual feedback system into discrete angular positions represented by individual LED indicators arranged in an arcuate pattern. This segmentation allows the system to cover a wide angular range (up to 360°) while maintaining simplicity, as each segment can be independently controlled and does not require complex processing.
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 2
AI summary
Awareness of a device, such as a robot, to proximate humans (or other moving object) manifested by a visual signal aligned with- i.e., aimed at- the human. For example, an illumination system may take the form of a closed or partial ring around which lighting elements may be selectively activated.