Boundary Wire Signaling for Adaptive Autonomous Mobile Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing autonomous mobile devices using boundary wires for navigation lack flexibility and adaptability, as they operate with fixed parameters and cannot adjust to environmental changes or operator needs without manual input, and adding new functionality increases production costs.
Innovation Solution
A system where the base station encodes data and commands onto the radio signal emitted by the boundary wire, allowing the autonomous mobile device to receive and process additional information for adaptive operation, including remote control and parameter adjustments, without significant cost increases.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the base station encodes data and commands onto the radio signal emitted by the boundary wire, then the adaptability and flexibility of the autonomous mobile device is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The boundary wire's radio signal is made multi-functional by encoding additional data and commands onto it. The same physical infrastructure (boundary wire and base station) that provides boundary detection now also provides communication functionality, allowing parameter adjustments and remote control without adding separate communication hardware to the mobile device.
Solution Approach 2:
The boundary wire radio signal serves as an intermediary carrier for transmitting control data and commands from the base station to the autonomous mobile device. This mediator approach allows complex communication functionality to be achieved through the existing electromagnetic field infrastructure rather than requiring direct device-to-device communication protocols.
2Adaptability or versatility
If remote control and parameter adjustment functionality is added to enable adaptive operation, then the flexibility and responsiveness to environmental changes is improved, but the production cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system reuses the existing boundary wire and base station infrastructure for dual purposes: boundary definition and remote communication. By encoding control data onto the same radio signal used for boundary detection, the patent avoids adding separate communication hardware to consumer-grade autonomous devices, thereby minimizing production cost increases while enabling flexible remote control and parameter adjustment capabilities.
3Ease of manufacture
If the autonomous mobile device uses fixed parameters for operation, then the device complexity is reduced and production cost is lowered, but the adaptability to environmental changes and operator needs deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The boundary wire radio signal acts as an intermediary communication channel that delivers parameter adjustment commands and control instructions to the autonomous mobile device. This allows the device to maintain simple fixed parameters for basic operation while gaining adaptive capabilities through remotely transmitted instructions, achieving a balance between manufacturing simplicity and operational flexibility.
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 flexible and adaptive operation of autonomous mobile devices by allowing remote control and parameter adjustments based on environmental changes and operator needs, improving their ability to respond to changing conditions without increasing production costs.
Implementation Method 1
The base station is configured to generate a radio signal and to transfer the radio signal to the boundary wire, which emits this radio signal
Implementation Method 2
the electromagnetic field emitted by the boundary wire is sensed by sensors that are mounted on the autonomous mobile device. From the signal strength the autonomous mobile device can derive its distance to the boundary wire
Data Source
AI summary
A system comprising an autonomous mobile device and a base station connected to a boundary wire is configured to transmit information from the base station to the autonomous mobile device. The base station is configured to generate a radio signal to be emitted by the boundary wire, wherein the autonomous mobile device is configured to autonomously drive within a working area based on the signal emitted by the boundary wire. The base station on the other hand is configured to encode data and/or commands into the radio signal which is then emitted by the boundary wire. The autonomous mobile device receive the emitted radio signal and is configured to decode the encoded data and/or commands in order to retrieve the original information.