Robot Floor Plan Mapping With Multi-Sensor Path Adaptation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Autonomous robots face challenges in efficiently navigating and performing tasks within complex environments due to limitations in mapping, localization, and object recognition, leading to suboptimal path planning and task execution.

Innovation Solution

A robot equipped with a chassis, wheels, encoders, actuators, and a variety of sensors, including imaging sensors, inertial measurement units, and optical tracking sensors, capable of capturing and processing data to create a top-view model of the environment, allowing for intelligent path planning and task execution based on perceived environmental conditions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If multiple sensors and data processing methods are used to improve mapping accuracy, then the measurement precision and reliability improve, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemapping accuracyVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple sensor types (imaging sensors, inertial measurement units, optical tracking sensors) and integrates their data through a unified processing system to achieve accurate environmental mapping while managing system complexity through coordinated operation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The robot system performs multiple functions including navigation, mapping, localization, and object recognition using a integrated sensor suite, where each sensor type contributes to multiple operational requirements simultaneously

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Productivity

If the robot autonomously navigates and performs tasks in complex environments, then the productivity improves, but the reliability may deteriorate due to navigation errors and obstacles

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetask execution efficiencyVSAvoidnavigation reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The robot uses real-time sensor data feedback to continuously update its environmental model and adjust its navigation path, improving reliability by detecting and responding to obstacles and changes in the environment during task execution

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The robot creates a preliminary map of the environment before executing tasks, allowing it to plan paths in advance and anticipate potential obstacles, thereby improving both productivity and navigation reliability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS11481918B1Method and apparatus for combining data to construct a floor plan
Publication Date: 2022.10.25 AI INC
  • US11481918B1 patent drawing
  • US11481918B1 patent drawing
  • US11481918B1 patent drawing

AI summary

A robot adapted to capture a plurality of data; perceive a model of the environment based on the plurality of data; determine areas within which work was performed and areas within which work is yet to be performed; store the model of the environment in a memory accessible to the processor; and transmit the model of the environment and a status of the robot to an application of a smartphone previously paired with the robot.