Method for operating an automatically moving service device
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Solution Overview
Problem
Automatically moving service devices often fail to detect obstacles in the maneuvering area before a base station early enough, leading to incomplete charging or shutdown, as they can only detect obstacles once they start approaching and lack a clear path for docking.
Innovation Solution
The method involves storing the spatial position and maneuvering area in an environment map, defining a turning point for directional changes, and using detection devices like cameras or laser scanners to monitor the area for obstacles, allowing the service device to change direction before approaching the base station, ensuring a straight-line path for docking.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the service device only detects obstacles during the approach process within the maneuvering area, then the detection device can operate with simple logic, but the service device cannot detect obstacles early enough and may fail to dock properly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by determining a turning point for directional change within the maneuvering area before the service device actually approaches the base station. This allows the service device to execute necessary directional changes in advance, ensuring it can navigate around obstacles that are detected early in the maneuvering area, thus improving docking reliability without requiring complex real-time detection during the critical approach phase.
2Ease of operation
If the service device executes directional changes late in the maneuvering area, then the navigation logic is simpler, but the service device may not have enough space to complete the turn before approaching the base station
Solution Approach 1:
The patent determines a turning point within the maneuvering area in advance, allowing the service device to execute directional changes before the critical approach phase. This preliminary positioning ensures sufficient maneuvering space is available while maintaining relatively simple navigation control logic.
3Reliability
If the service device monitors the entire maneuvering area for obstacles, then obstacle detection is more thorough, but the computational load and detection complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by focusing obstacle detection efforts on the maneuvering area specifically, rather than the entire environment. The service device determines whether the maneuvering area is free of obstacles that would prevent proper docking, concentrating detection resources on the critical zone where obstacles would have the most impact on docking success.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for operating an automatically moving service device includes detecting obstacles within an environment with a detection device. The detection results are used to generate an environment map of the environment, and the service device moves within the environment based on the environment map. A control device of the service device receives information about a spatial position of a base station in the environment, and a maneuvering area for the service device to approach, turn toward and/or dock with the base station is determined. The spatial position and maneuvering area are stored in the environment map and a turning point for a directional change is prescribed within the maneuvering area. The service device can execute a last directional change at this turning point at the latest and independently of the remaining progression of movement, before it moves along a straight line toward the base station.