Floor Material Recognition Using Vibration and Piezoelectric Sensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing mobile robot systems struggle to accurately determine floor materials while minimizing size and reducing sensitivity to environmental factors, as current methods like infrared and laser sensors are either temperature-sensitive or require a significant robot size.
Innovation Solution
A floor material recognition system using a mechanical vibration generated by an actuator and electrical signal from a piezoelectric sensor, integrated with an artificial neural network, allows the mobile robot to classify floor materials independently during movement, reducing the overall robot size and enhancing accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If infrared light receiving elements are used to detect floor surface conditions, then temperature sensitivity is reduced, but the system becomes more complex and prone to malfunction indoors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces optical/infrared detection systems with a mechanical vibration-based detection system. The actuator generates mechanical vibrations that propagate through the floor, and the piezoelectric sensor detects these vibrations mechanically, eliminating the need for complex infrared light receiving elements and their associated temperature sensitivity issues.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces mechanical vibrations as an intermediary medium between the actuator and the piezoelectric sensor. Instead of directly detecting floor properties optically, the system uses mechanical vibrations as a mediator to transfer information about the floor surface conditions, simplifying the detection mechanism while improving reliability.
2Measurement precision
If laser distance sensor is used to detect floor obstacles, then floor terrain observation is improved, but the robot size must be large and floor material determination is not possible
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the vibration detection system multi-functional by enabling it to perform both floor terrain observation and floor material determination simultaneously. The same mechanical vibration-based detection system that observes floor terrain can also identify floor materials through their unique vibration characteristics, eliminating the need for separate laser distance sensors and large robot structures.
3Measurement precision
If visual data is used for floor material recognition, then recognition capability is achieved, but data processing time increases and operation speed decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent substitutes optical visual data collection with mechanical vibration-based detection. The piezoelectric sensor directly measures mechanical vibrations that occur when the actuator contacts the floor, generating electrical signals that can be processed much faster than visual data. This mechanical-to-electrical conversion enables real-time processing and faster operational response.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the detection function into distinct components: the actuator generates vibrations, the piezoelectric sensor detects them as electrical signals, and the control unit processes these signals for material identification. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently, with the electrical signal processing being significantly faster than visual data processing.
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 system enables precise floor material classification with high accuracy (95.4%) and reduces the robot's size by utilizing one-dimensional voltage data, improving operational efficiency and safety.
Implementation Method 1
an electrical signal generated through high frequency
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a floor material recognition system and method. The floor material recognition system may include a control unit configured to control an operation of the floor material recognition system; and an object recognition device configured to generate a mechanical vibration in response to an actuator signal received from the control unit and to generate a sensor signal corresponding to the mechanical vibration, and the control unit may recognize a material on the floor surface present in a movement path of the floor material recognition system based on the sensor signal.