Camera-Guided Tool Positioning for Complex Material Paths
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing visual guides and mechanical guides for tools are difficult to follow manually and limit movement, especially for complex paths, and require time to set up.
Innovation Solution
A system with a rig or frame, sensors, and cameras that automatically guide tools with precision and flexibility by determining their position on a material surface and adjusting to a desired coordinate using hybrid positioning methods.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If visual guides are drawn on material using measuring devices, then the user can have a reference for tool placement, but the guides are difficult to follow manually and require time to set up
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses cameras to capture images of the material surface and creates digital copies/maps of the work area. These digital representations are then used to guide tool positioning without requiring physical measuring devices or manual guide placement, eliminating setup time while maintaining precision through computer vision algorithms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces mechanical measuring devices and physical visual guides with optical sensors (cameras) and computer processing. The system captures images, processes them to identify material features, and uses computational algorithms to determine tool positioning, substituting mechanical measurement with optical-digital measurement.
2Ease of operation
If mechanical guides such as railings or fences are put in place to assist the user in guiding the tool, then the user can have guidance for tool movement, but the guides limit movement or take time to set up
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic guidance system where the camera continuously captures the tool's position relative to the material, and the system dynamically calculates and provides guidance feedback. This allows the tool to move freely along complex paths without physical constraints, adapting to any trajectory the user desires while maintaining guidance accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary computational system that processes the relationship between the tool, camera, and material. This intermediary layer provides virtual guidance through image processing and coordinate transformation, allowing tool movement without physical guides while maintaining ease of operation through digital feedback.
3Ease of operation
If mechanical guides are used to guide the tool, then the user can have assistance in following a path, but the guides may not support complex paths
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from two-dimensional physical guides to three-dimensional digital guidance through image processing. The camera captures spatial relationships in 3D space, and the system processes these images to provide guidance for complex multi-dimensional paths, enabling tool movement along arbitrary trajectories that would be impossible with traditional mechanical guides.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the fundamental parameters of guidance from fixed mechanical constraints to flexible digital parameters. By using camera images and computational algorithms, the system can adapt to any path complexity, changing guidance parameters dynamically based on the desired trajectory and material features, thereby supporting complex paths with ease.
4Device complexity
If manual following of visual guides is attempted, then the user can use simple tools, but the process is difficult and imprecise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback loop where the camera continuously monitors the tool's position relative to the material, compares it with the desired position, and provides real-time guidance feedback to the user. This feedback mechanism maintains simple tool design while dramatically improving following accuracy through continuous visual monitoring and computational correction.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods of the present disclosure relate generally to facilitate performing a task on a surface such as woodworking or printing. More specifically, in some embodiments, the present disclosure relates to mapping the surface of the material and determining the precise location of a tool in reference to the surface of a material. Some embodiments relate to obtaining and relating a design with the map of the material or displaying the current position of the tool on a display device. In some embodiments, the present disclosure facilitates adjusting, moving or auto-correcting the tool along a predetermined path such as, e.g., a cutting or drawing path. In some embodiments, the reference location may correspond to a design or plan obtained from obtained via an online design store