Visual Navigation for Material Pushing Robot Charging Return
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional material pushing robots in agricultural settings require costly magnetic navigation systems for charging, which are inefficient, especially in large operations where the charging area is far away, leading to high maintenance costs and potential power outages during navigation to charging stations.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a visual navigation system using visual sensors and processors in material pushing robots allows for autonomous navigation to charging devices, eliminating the need for magnetic sensors and reducing operational costs by using visual identifiers to guide the robots back to charging stations before power depletion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If magnetic sensors and magnetic navigating elements are used for navigation, then the robot can automatically navigate to the charging pile, but the operating cost and maintenance cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the magnetic sensing system with a visual recognition system. The robot uses a visual sensor (camera) to capture images of identification marks on the ground, and a processor to recognize these marks and generate navigation paths. This substitution eliminates the need for expensive magnetic sensors and magnetic navigating elements, significantly reducing hardware costs while maintaining automatic navigation capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses visual identification marks (such as colored tape or painted symbols) placed on the ground as navigation cues. These marks serve as visual copies or representations of the charging pile's location, allowing the robot to navigate to the charging area without requiring complex magnetic field infrastructure. The visual marks are simple, inexpensive, and easy to deploy.
2Reliability
If the charging pile is located far from the operation area, then the robot can charge when power is depleted, but the navigation distance increases the risk of power outage during navigation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a power monitoring system that detects when the robot's battery charge level drops below a predetermined threshold. When this occurs, the robot automatically generates a navigation command to return to the charging area without waiting for complete power depletion. This preliminary action ensures the robot has sufficient power to complete the navigation journey, eliminating the risk of power outage during transit while maintaining reliable charging availability.
3Reliability
If the robot returns to the charging device after power depletion, then it can be recharged, but the robot stops operating during navigation and charging
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a fleet management system with multiple robots that can substitute for each other. When one robot needs to return for charging, another robot can take over its operational tasks, ensuring continuous forage pushing service. This substitution mechanism maintains operational continuity while individual robots periodically return to charge, achieving both power reliability and productivity.
4Device complexity
If visual sensors and processors are used instead of magnetic sensors, then the hardware cost is reduced, but the navigation precision in complex environments may be affected
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces visual identification marks (such as colored tape, painted symbols, or printed patterns) as intermediary elements on the ground to facilitate navigation. These marks serve as clear, high-contrast visual cues that are easily recognizable by the robot's camera system. The marks are placed at strategic locations (charging area boundaries, path intersections) to provide unambiguous navigation information, ensuring high navigation accuracy despite using inexpensive visual sensors instead of precision magnetic sensors.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed are a material pushing robot (1), a material pushing system, and a material pushing management method. The material pushing system comprises at least one material pushing robot (1), at least one energy charging device (2) and a management unit (3), wherein the management unit (3) comprises a detection module (301), a processing module (302) and a control module (303); the processing module (302) is communicatively connected to the detection module (301) and the control module (303); the material pushing robot (1) and the energy charging device (2) are controllably connected to the management unit (3) respectively; when the material pushing robot (1) needs to be subjected to energy charging, the detection module (301) detects surrounding environment information so as to acquire at least one visual identifier (S); the processing module (302) generates a navigation instruction on the basis of the visual identifier (S) and sends the navigation instruction to the control module (303); and the control module (303) controls, on the basis of the navigation instruction, the material pushing robot (1) and the energy charging device (2) to meet, so as to charge energy for the material pushing robot (1).