Autonomous Ball Collection Prioritization by Virtual Work Area
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional scattered object collection systems, such as autonomous ball collectors, inefficiently perform ball collecting operations due to unnecessary traveling over areas without scattered objects, leading to low efficiency and increased operational costs.
Innovation Solution
A scattered object collection system that sets a virtual work area based on the distribution state of objects, prioritizing areas with higher density for collection, thereby reducing unnecessary traveling and improving efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If the traveling collector performs collecting operation all over the work area, then the collection coverage is improved, but the unnecessary traveling increases and efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating a virtual work area with non-uniform priority levels instead of treating the entire work area equally. The virtual work area is divided into high-priority regions (where scattered objects are densely distributed) and low-priority regions, allowing the traveling collector to focus its collecting operations on areas that require attention while reducing or skipping operations in areas with few or no objects. This resolves the contradiction by improving efficiency through selective local operations while maintaining comprehensive coverage through prioritized area selection.
2Area of stationary object
If the traveling collector travels to areas with low object density, then the collection coverage is improved, but the energy consumption and operational costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements partial action by having the traveling collector perform collecting operations selectively rather than uniformly across the entire work area. Based on the distribution state of scattered objects, the system designates certain areas as virtual work areas where collecting operations should be performed with higher priority, while other areas are either excluded or given lower priority. This allows the collector to achieve adequate coverage by focusing efforts on high-priority regions, reducing energy consumption by avoiding unnecessary travel to low-density areas.
3Quantity of substance
If the traveling collector performs comprehensive collecting operation, then the collection completeness is improved, but the traveling time and operational duration increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by acquiring and analyzing the distribution state of scattered objects before the traveling collector begins its collecting operations. The virtual work area setting unit uses this advance information to pre-designate high-priority areas where objects are densely distributed. This allows the traveling collector to immediately head to and focus on areas with high object density, ensuring comprehensive collection of the majority of objects while minimizing traveling time by avoiding areas with few or no objects.
Data Source
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AI summary
Provided is a highly reliable, cost-effective scattered object collection system that can efficiently collect scattered objects by reducing unnecessary traveling of a traveling collector. The scattered object collection system includes a traveling collector 1 that performs a collecting operation by picking up balls B while traveling in a work area W, sets a virtual work area Z (or a virtual priority work area Za) to an area in the work area W where balls are relatively densely present and in the vicinity of the storage space 66 of balls, and allows the traveling collector 1 to perform a collecting operation in the virtual work area Z (or the virtual priority work area Za) with higher priority than the other areas.