Autonomous Sensor Fusion for Sound-Guided Visual Navigation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current autonomous devices, such as robots and drones, lack the ability to assess their environment in real-time and adapt to unforeseen changes, relying on pre-programmed rules that do not account for dynamic situations.
Innovation Solution
An operation determination method and device that receives pixel data from image sensors and sound data from quadrilateral-configured sound sensors, mapping the sound data to a matrix to identify corresponding pixels and determine the autonomous device's operation based on amplitude differences, enabling intelligent decision-making.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If autonomous devices use pre-programmed rules with standardized sensor interfaces, then device complexity is reduced and ease of manufacture is improved, but adaptability to dynamic environments and real-time environmental assessment capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the environment into four quadrants and associates each quadrant with a specific sound sensor. This segmentation allows the system to process environmental information in a structured manner, improving adaptability without overwhelming complexity. Each sound sensor monitors a specific directional quadrant, enabling localized environmental assessment while maintaining overall system manageability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a spatial dimension by arranging sound sensors in a quadrilateral configuration and mapping them to four quadrants of visual space. This dimensional approach transforms one-dimensional sound detection into two-dimensional spatial awareness, enhancing adaptability to dynamic environments while maintaining systematic organization.
2Productivity
If autonomous devices rely on pre-programmed algorithms without real-time environmental assessment, then device complexity is minimized, but productivity and ability to handle unforeseen changes deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback by continuously monitoring sound amplitude differences across four quadrants and using this information to dynamically adjust device operations. The system compares sound amplitudes from different sensors, identifies the quadrant with maximum sound amplitude, and responds accordingly, enabling real-time environmental assessment and improving productivity through adaptive decision-making.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamics by enabling the autonomous device to adapt its behavior in real-time based on environmental sound patterns. Instead of following fixed pre-programmed sequences, the device dynamically adjusts its operations based on the identified sound quadrant and amplitude differences, allowing it to respond to unforeseen changes and improve productivity through flexible, context-aware decision-making.
3Measurement precision
If autonomous devices use multiple sound sensors in quadrilateral configuration with mapping to pixel data, then measurement precision and environmental awareness are improved, but device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs asymmetry in the functional mapping rather than physical arrangement by associating each of the four sound sensors with specific quadrants of the visual field. This asymmetric mapping strategy enables precise directional sound localization and environmental awareness while maintaining a symmetric, easily manufacturable quadrilateral sensor configuration, thus improving measurement precision without significantly complicating manufacturing.
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
Enables autonomous devices to intelligently navigate and respond to dynamic environments, including unforeseen situations, by correlating sound sources with visual data, enhancing their ability to avoid obstacles and track objects with human-like intelligence.
Implementation Method 1
sound data is received from by at least four sound sensors placed in a quadrilateral configuration on the autonomous device
Implementation Method 2
pixel data is received from at least an image sensor associated with the autonomous device
Data Source
AI summary
A method and device for determining operation of an autonomous device is disclosed. The method includes receiving pixel data and sound data associated with an environment at an instance of time, wherein the pixel data is received from least an image sensor associated with the autonomous device, and wherein the sound data is received from at least four sound sensors placed in a quadrilateral configuration on the autonomous device. Each quadrant of the pixel data is associated with each of the at least four sound sensors. The sound data received is mapped the to the matrix to identify one or more pixels in the matrix corresponding to the sound data based on a difference in amplitude between a first sound sensor of the at least four sound sensors recording maximum sound amplitude with a plurality of second sound sensors of the at least four sound sensors.