Control of autonomous mobile robots
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing autonomous mobile robots lack intuitive and accurate methods for users to define and manage behavior control zones, leading to inefficiencies and inaccuracies in cleaning operations, particularly in diverse environments with multiple robots performing different functions.
Innovation Solution
A system that allows users to create and manage behavior control zones using a mobile device, with features like interactive maps, contextual indicators, and automatic updates, enabling precise control over robot behaviors and operations through sensor data and confirmation processes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If users manually define behavior control zones by interacting with mobile application interfaces, then the ease of operation is improved, but the measurement precision and accuracy of zone placement deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary confirmation process where the robot physically moves to the selected location to verify the user's intended behavior control zone placement. This intermediary step bridges the gap between easy manual selection and accurate zone placement by allowing the user to confirm or adjust the location based on the robot's actual position, thus resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and measurement precision
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback by having the robot navigate to the selected behavior control zone location and present it to the user for confirmation. This feedback loop allows the user to verify the accuracy of the zone placement after easy selection, enabling correction if needed, thereby maintaining both ease of operation and improved measurement precision
2Adaptability or versatility
If behavior control zones are established for multiple autonomous mobile robots, then the adaptability and versatility are improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by creating a single behavior control zone system that can be shared and differentially applied across multiple autonomous mobile robots with different functions (e.g., vacuuming, mopping). The same zone infrastructure serves multiple robot types, allowing differential control (e.g., vacuum robot enters zone, mop robot avoids zone) without requiring separate zone systems for each robot, thus improving adaptability while managing complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The system segments the control logic for multiple robots by allowing each robot type to have different behavior rules applied to the same behavior control zones. This segmentation enables independent configuration of robot-specific behaviors (enter, avoid, clean) while using a unified zone management system, reducing the overall complexity compared to managing separate zone systems for each robot
Data Source
AI summary
An autonomous mobile robot includes a drive system to support the robot above a surface, a sensor system configured to generate a signal indicative of a location of the robot on the surface, and a controller operably connected to the drive system and the sensor system. The drive system is operable to navigate the robot about the surface. The controller is configured to execute instructions to perform operations including establishing a behavior control zone on the surface, controlling the drive system, in response to establishing the behavior control zone on the surface, to maneuver the robot to a location of the behavior control zone on the surface, and maneuvering, using the drive system, the robot about the surface and initiating a behavior in response to determining, based on the signal indicative of the location of the robot, that the robot is proximate the behavior control zone.