Image-Guided Suction Area Selection for Wrinkled Packaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing robotic suction systems face challenges in stably suctioning objects packaged in materials with varying surface conditions, such as wrinkles or holes, leading to inconsistent vacuum performance.
Innovation Solution
An information processing apparatus that determines the optimal suction area on a packaged object by analyzing the surface state of packaging materials using image processing and machine learning, generating a suction likelihood map to guide the suction device for stable object handling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a suction pad is haphazardly pressed against some part of a packaged object, then the operation is simple, but the suction stability deteriorates due to wrinkles or holes on the packaging material surface
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary analysis of the packaging material surface using image processing before suction. The suction pad placement is determined based on pre-acquired information about the surface state, identifying areas without wrinkles or holes. This preliminary action ensures reliable suction while maintaining operational simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses image processing to acquire information about the packaging material surface and provides feedback on the suitability of different areas for suction. Based on this feedback regarding surface state (wrinkles, holes), the system determines the optimal suction pad placement to ensure stable suction.
2Area of stationary object
If the suction surface covers the entirety of the bagged object, then the suction area increases, but air enters between the packaging material and suction surface due to surface irregularities, reducing suction effectiveness
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of uniformly covering the entire object, the system identifies specific local areas on the packaging material surface that are suitable for suction (areas without wrinkles or holes). The suction pad is placed only on these locally optimal areas, ensuring reliable suction while maintaining sufficient suction area.
3Reliability
If image processing and analysis are performed to identify optimal suction areas, then suction reliability improves, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces complex mechanical trial-and-error suction pad placement with image processing and information analysis. By using optical detection and computational analysis to identify suitable suction areas, the system achieves reliable suction placement through intelligence rather than mechanical complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
An information processing apparatus for determining an area of a packaged object in a packaging material to suctioned by a suction device for picking up the packaged object includes an input unit configured to input an image obtained by capturing the packaged object, and a determining unit configured to, based on a state of a surface of the packaging material regarding a degree of ease of suction in each area of the surface of the packaging material identified based on the image, determine the area to be suctioned by the suction device.