Elevator-Riding Robot Floor Detection Without Visual or Elevator Links
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Solution Overview
Problem
Robots face challenges in accurately determining the arrival floor of an elevator without communication with the elevator or using a camera, especially in crowded environments where visual information is obstructed.
Innovation Solution
The robot employs sensors, such as pressure and acceleration sensors, to gather information about the elevator's movement and the environment, which is then used to populate a database with floor-specific data. This allows the robot to identify the arrival floor based on sensor data and pre-stored information.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the robot uses communication interface to obtain elevator stop floor information, then the robot can accurately determine the arrival floor, but the robot cannot determine the floor when communication with the elevator is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces sensors (pressure sensors, acceleration sensors) as intermediary devices that indirectly measure elevator position through physical parameters rather than direct communication. Pressure sensors detect atmospheric pressure changes corresponding to different floor levels, while acceleration sensors measure elevator movement and calculate position through integration, serving as mediators between the robot and elevator floor information.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the floor determination process into multiple independent sensing methods (pressure-based detection, acceleration-based detection) rather than relying on a single communication channel. This segmentation allows the robot to switch between different sensing modalities depending on communication availability, maintaining operational capability under various conditions.
2Measurement precision
If the robot uses camera to obtain elevator stop floor information, then the robot can identify the floor visually, but the robot cannot accurately determine the floor in crowded environments with obstructed views
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the optical/mechanical camera-based visual identification system with sensor-based physical measurement systems (pressure sensors measuring atmospheric pressure, acceleration sensors measuring motion). These sensor systems are not affected by visual obstructions from crowds, elevators interior decorations, or lighting conditions that hinder camera operation.
3Measurement precision
If the robot uses pressure sensor to detect floor information, then the robot can determine the floor based on pressure changes, but the robot requires time to accumulate pressure data for accurate floor identification
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple sensing modalities (pressure sensors, acceleration sensors, and optionally camera) into an integrated floor determination system. The processor combines data from different sensors to cross-validate and accelerate floor identification, reducing the time required compared to relying on a single sensor type that requires extensive data accumulation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements periodic sampling of sensor data at fixed time intervals, allowing the system to accumulate measurements efficiently over time. This periodic action enables the robot to determine floor position by comparing pressure or acceleration readings at specific intervals, reducing the total time needed compared to continuous monitoring while maintaining accuracy.
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
The robot can accurately determine the arrival floor of the elevator without relying on communication with the elevator or visual cues, ensuring precise navigation between floors even in obstructed environments.
Implementation Method 1
obtain, via the pressure sensor, a pressure of each floor at which the elevator on which the robot is aboard has stopped
Implementation Method 2
obtain, using the acceleration sensor, information regarding an inter-floor travel distance of the robot, and obtain information regarding an altitude of each floor based on the information regarding the inter-floor travel distance
Data Source
AI summary
A robot includes a sensor; a communication interface; one or more processors; and memory storing instructions, that when executed, cause the one or more processors to, based on a user input to move the robot on a first floor to a second floor, control the robot to board an elevator; based on the robot being aboard the elevator and the elevator being stopped at a floor, populate a database stored in the memory with information obtained through the sensor; based on the robot not being in communication with the elevator while the robot is aboard the elevator, identify whether the elevator has arrived at the second floor based on the information in the database and the information obtained through the sensor; and based on identifying that the elevator has arrived at the second floor, control the robot to exit the elevator.