Guide Robot Speed Matching for Visually Impaired Navigation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional guide robots for visually impaired individuals often have fixed moving speeds, making it difficult for them to adapt to different walking speeds or user preferences, which can lead to discomfort and inefficiency in navigation.

Innovation Solution

A guide robot equipped with a speed sensor to detect the user's walking speed and a driving device to adjust its speed accordingly, along with additional features like a handle control system, voice recognition, obstacle avoidance, and environmental mapping, ensuring the robot moves in sync with the user and provides assistance through voice reminders and remote communication.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the guide robot uses a fixed moving speed, then the device complexity is reduced, but the adaptability to different user walking speeds deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadaptability to different walking speedsVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by transitioning from a fixed speed system to a dynamic speed adjustment system. The robot incorporates a speed sensor to detect user walking speed and a driving device to automatically adjust its moving speed in real-time, making the system adaptive to different user needs while managing complexity through automated control

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements parameter changes by modifying the speed parameter from a fixed value to a variable that can be adjusted based on detected user walking speed. The driving device changes the robot's moving speed parameter dynamically to match the user's pace, improving adaptability without requiring complex manual intervention

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Ease of operation

If the guide robot automatically adjusts speed to match user walking speed, then the ease of operation is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of operationVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies self-service by enabling the robot to automatically detect user walking speed and adjust its own moving speed without user intervention. The speed sensor and driving device work together to make the system self-regulating, improving ease of operation while the automated control manages the added complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements feedback through the speed sensor that continuously monitors user walking speed and provides information to the driving device. This closed-loop feedback system allows the robot to automatically adjust its speed to match the user's pace, improving ease of operation while managing complexity through automated control algorithms

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP4023200B1Guide robot and method and system for operating the same
Publication Date: 2024.08.21 BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO LTD
  • EP4023200B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4023200B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4023200B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present application discloses a guide robot and a system for managing the guide robot. The guide robot includes a speed sensor, configured for detecting a user's walking speed; and a driving device, configured for controlling a moving speed of the guide robot based on the user's walking speed so that the moving speed of the guide robot is compatible with the user's walking speed.