Map construction method and related apparatus

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for adding virtual obstacles to autonomous mobile apparatus maps are not applicable in scenarios without pre-existing maps, limiting their universality and affecting user requirements for navigation and obstacle avoidance.

Innovation Solution

A method and apparatus that enable autonomous mobile apparatuses to automatically identify and generate virtual obstacles by detecting pre-placed markers in the environment, using sensors to construct maps without relying on existing maps, and applying pairing rules to restrict movement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If physical obstacles are arranged at boundaries of forbidden areas, then the autonomous mobile apparatus can identify restricted zones, but walking of a person is affected

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveidentification of restricted zonesVSAvoidperson walking

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses visual markers (arrows, lines, regions) that copy or represent the boundaries of restricted zones rather than using physical obstacles. These markers are detected by the autonomous mobile apparatus to define forbidden areas, while remaining transparent to human pedestrians who can walk through the same spaces without obstruction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

2Reliability

If a user manually adds a virtual obstacle to an existing map, then path planning can avoid restricted areas, but the solution is not applicable to scenarios without a map

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepath planning avoidanceVSAvoidapplicability to different scenarios

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent places visual markers in the environment beforehand (preliminarily) to define restricted zones. When the autonomous mobile apparatus operates in the space, it detects these pre-placed markers and automatically generates virtual obstacles without requiring manual map editing or pre-existing maps, enabling the solution to work in both mapped and unmapped scenarios.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Adaptability or versatility

If the autonomous mobile apparatus automatically identifies and pairs markers to generate virtual obstacles, then universality is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuniversality across scenariosVSAvoidmarker identification and pairing system

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual map editing operations with an automated optical detection system. The autonomous mobile apparatus uses its sensor to detect visual markers in the environment, automatically identifies and pairs them based on geometric relationships, and generates virtual obstacles without human intervention, reducing operational complexity while improving universality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS20260022947A1Map construction method and related apparatus

Publication Date: 2026.01.22 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD

AI summary

A map construction method and a related apparatus are provided. The method includes: obtaining sensing data, where the sensing data is obtained by detecting, via a sensor of a mobile apparatus, a physical space in which the mobile apparatus is located, where pre-arranged first markers are placed in the physical space; identifying, based on the sensing data, second markers having a pairing relationship in the first markers; generating a virtual obstacle based on the second markers, where the virtual obstacle is configured to restrict traveling of the mobile apparatus in the physical space; and constructing a map of the physical space based on the virtual obstacle.