Mobile Medical Unit Navigation with Classified Collision Objects
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing autonomous medical-technical units face limitations in interacting with specific objects, as their collision protection functions are designed for maximum safety, leading to interrupted operations and restricted use cases, particularly when interacting with intended collision objects like patient support devices or imaging equipment.
Innovation Solution
A method that classifies potential collision objects based on detection data, allowing for context-sensitive autonomous operation by adapting trajectory calculations and operating parameters, enabling interactions with specific object classes while maintaining safety for other objects.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If collision protection functions are designed for maximum safety to detect and avoid all possible collision objects, then safety of people and equipment is improved, but operational flexibility and ability to interact with intended objects deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by differentiating the collision protection response based on the type of object detected. Instead of a uniform safety response to all objects, the system assigns different object classes (e.g., persons, patients, equipment, furniture) with different safety thresholds and response behaviors. This allows maximum safety for vulnerable objects like persons while permitting controlled interactions with equipment designated for docking or collaboration.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adapts its collision protection behavior based on real-time object classification. The control device continuously evaluates detection data, classifies objects, and adjusts the autonomous operation accordingly. This dynamic response enables the unit to switch between avoidance mode and interaction mode depending on the detected object type, resolving the contradiction between safety and operational flexibility.
2Reliability
If the autonomous operation terminates and requires manual intervention when a collision object is detected, then safety is improved, but productivity and operational efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts its operational mode based on object classification. For safe objects like equipment designated for docking, the autonomous operation continues without termination. For objects requiring caution, the system adjusts speed or trajectory rather than stopping. This dynamic response maintains safety while avoiding unnecessary manual interventions that would reduce productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The control device changes operational parameters (speed, trajectory, stopping distance) based on the classified object type rather than uniformly terminating operation. This allows the system to maintain autonomous operation with adjusted parameters for certain object classes, preserving productivity while ensuring safety through parameter adaptation.
3Reliability
If the mobile medical unit maintains a large warning area and stopping distance for all detected objects, then safety is improved, but the operational range and ability to reach destinations deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies different safety margins and warning distances based on the classified object type. For persons and patients, larger warning areas and stopping distances are maintained. For equipment and furniture, smaller margins are sufficient. This localized quality approach ensures safety for vulnerable objects while improving movement efficiency when approaching less vulnerable objects.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
The invention relates to a method for operating an at least partially autonomously moving, mobile medical unit (1), which has at least one sensing device (6) for detecting possible collision objects (9) in the environment of the unit (1) and a control device (2), which evaluates the sensing data of the sensing device (6) and which is designed to at least partially autonomously operate the movement of the unit (1) while performing a collision protection function, wherein a possible collision object (9) described by the sensing data is classified by evaluating the sensing data and the classification is taken into consideration in the autonomous operation of the unit (1), in particular in the calculation of a trajectory (20) to be traveled.