Item Inspection Using Language Constraints and Image Matching

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Solution Overview

Problem

Robots struggle to actively recognize items to the same degree as humans, leading to inefficiencies in task execution due to the need for additional procedures when instructions or commands are not recognized accurately.

Innovation Solution

An item inspection device and method that combines natural language-based constraint conditions with image processing to determine whether an item satisfies predefined constraints, using an image processor, text processor, and inspector to analyze input images and text data.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If robots are used to replace human workers for simple physical labor, then productivity and cost efficiency are improved, but the ability to actively recognize and understand task instructions deteriorates compared to human workers

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverobot task execution efficiencyVSAvoidinstruction recognition accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The instruction recognition system is segmented into multiple specialized modules: a natural language processing module that parses text instructions, an image recognition module that processes visual data, and a constraint satisfaction module that verifies task requirements. Each module handles a specific aspect of instruction understanding, collectively enabling the robot to match human-level comprehension without requiring a single complex unified system

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A constraint condition representation serves as an intermediary between the raw instruction input and the robot's execution system. The natural language instruction is transformed into structured constraint conditions that can be systematically processed and verified, bridging the gap between human communication and robotic action

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If additional procedures are added to enter instructions or commands manually, then instruction recognition accuracy is improved, but task execution time and operational complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinstruction recognition accuracyVSAvoidtask execution time
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system processes instructions continuously through parallel processing of natural language parsing and image recognition. Multiple constraint conditions are evaluated simultaneously rather than sequentially, maintaining continuous useful action throughout the instruction processing pipeline to minimize delays

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Solution Approach 2:

Constraint conditions are pre-processed and structured into a standardized format before being presented to the satisfaction evaluation module. This preliminary organization of instruction data accelerates the subsequent verification process by eliminating the need for repeated parsing and interpretation during execution

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Measurement precision

If complex processing is used to determine whether constraint conditions are satisfied, then inspection accuracy is improved, but device complexity and computational requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconstraint satisfaction determination accuracyVSAvoidprocessing system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The constraint satisfaction determination process is divided into distinct evaluation stages: constraint extraction from natural language, constraint formalization into machine-checkable conditions, and satisfaction verification against observed state. Each stage handles a specific aspect of the determination process, achieving high accuracy through modular specialized processing rather than a single complex algorithm

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system creates a symbolic representation (copy) of the constraint conditions in a standardized format that mirrors the structure of the observed state. This copied representation allows for efficient comparison and verification without requiring complex direct analysis of the original unstructured instruction text

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Data Source

PatentEP4671739A1Item inspection device and method therefor
Publication Date: 2025.12.31 LG ELECTRONICS INC
  • EP4671739A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2(c)
  • EP4671739A1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP4671739A1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

An item inspection device is presented. The device may comprise: an image processor for performing image processing on an item image that is input; a text processor for performing text processing on constraints for inspection of an item that is input; and an inspection machine for determining whether the item image that is input satisfies the constraints by using the constraints and a pre-learned data set of reference item images related to the constraints or information related to the pre-learned data set.