Balance Car Autonomous Navigation via Detection Markers

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Solution Overview

Problem

Users face difficulties in moving balance cars to certain areas where driving is not allowed, requiring manual dragging and significant physical effort due to the lack of intelligent control systems.

Innovation Solution

A method and apparatus for controlling balance cars using navigation markers, such as graphic, audio, or infrared markers, which allow the balance car to autonomously navigate based on detected instructions, eliminating the need for manual operation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If manual dragging is used to move the balance car, then the balance car can be moved to restricted areas, but the user experiences significant physical effort and operational difficulty

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of moving balance carVSAvoidphysical effort required
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The balance car autonomously navigates to restricted areas by detecting navigation markers independently, eliminating the need for user physical effort. The system serves itself by automatically following detected markers without requiring manual dragging or continuous user intervention.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical dragging system with an optical detection and automatic control system. Instead of manual physical force to move the car, the system uses markers detection, image processing, and automated navigation control to achieve movement, substituting mechanical effort with intelligent automation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Ease of operation

If intelligent control system is added to enable autonomous navigation, then the ease of operation is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveintelligent control capabilityVSAvoidcontrol system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The balance car's control system is designed to perform multiple functions: it can detect various types of navigation markers (graphic, audio, infrared), process different marker types through unified image recognition algorithms, and execute automated navigation. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate specialized systems for each marker type, thereby managing complexity while enhancing intelligence.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Productivity

If navigation markers are used for autonomous navigation, then productivity is improved by eliminating manual operation, but the difficulty of detecting and measuring increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenavigation efficiencyVSAvoidmarker detection difficulty
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces navigation markers as intermediary objects that facilitate communication between the environment and the balance car's navigation system. These markers serve as detectable intermediaries that carry location and direction information, enabling the car to navigate autonomously without requiring complex environmental mapping or sophisticated sensing of natural features.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP3287747B1Method and apparatus for controlling a balance car
Publication Date: 2020.12.30 BEIJING XIAOMI MOBILE SOFTWARE CO LTD
  • EP3287747B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3287747B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3287747B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

The present disclosure relates to a method and an apparatus for controlling a balance car. The method includes: detecting (S101) a navigation marker used for navigating the balance car; and controlling (S102) the balance car to travel according to the navigation marker when the navigation marker is detected. According to this technical solution, by detecting an navigation marker used for navigating the balance car, the balance car can be controlled intelligently to travel according to the navigation marker when the navigation marker is detected, without requiring a user to drive the balance car, so that an intelligent control to the balance car can be realized, the problem that the user needs to drag the balance car manually if he cannot drive the balance car can be avoided, and the user is greatly facilitated.