In-Building Accessibility Mapping for Autonomous Mobility Navigation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing mobility devices lack accurate environment maps of interior spaces, particularly lacking points of accessibility such as ramps and elevators, which hinders their navigation and traversal within buildings.
Innovation Solution
A system where mobility devices collect sensor data and transmit it to a map server to create and update environment maps, including points of accessibility, allowing autonomous mobility devices to navigate through environments using these maps.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If environment maps are created for interior spaces, then navigation capability is improved, but availability of accurate maps including accessibility points remains insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges data from multiple mobility devices into a unified environment map. Sensors from different devices collect information about accessibility points (elevators, ramps, doors) and combine these datasets to create a comprehensive map that overcomes the limitations of individual device data, thereby improving both navigation capability and information completeness
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary mapping actions by having mobility devices collect and transmit sensor data to build environment maps before navigation tasks. This preliminary data collection and map creation enables subsequent autonomous navigation to be more reliable and informed about accessibility points in advance
2Measurement precision
If multiple mobility devices collect and transmit sensor data, then map accuracy is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The map server is designed as a universal platform that handles multiple functions: receiving sensor data from various mobility devices, processing and fusing the data, creating environment maps, and distributing maps back to devices. This multi-functional approach consolidates complexity into a single system rather than requiring complex coordination between multiple independent systems
Solution Approach 2:
The map server acts as an intermediary between multiple mobility devices. It mediates the data exchange by centralizing the reception, processing, and distribution of sensor data and environment maps, thereby simplifying the overall system architecture compared to direct peer-to-peer communication between devices
Data Source
AI summary
A method includes receiving sensor data relating to an environment from a plurality of mobility deices, determining locations of one or more points of accessibility within the environment based on the sensor data, creating an environment map based on the sensor data, and transmitting the environment map to a mobility device. The environment map includes the one or more points of accessibility.