Mobile Platform Map Recalibration After Impact-Based Coordinate Shift

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Solution Overview

Problem

Positioning and navigation errors occur in robots and automatic guided vehicles due to collisions or impacts, leading to deviations in positioning data.

Innovation Solution

A calibration system for mobile platforms that includes a map-generating module, positioning module, impact-detecting module, image-analyzing module, coordinate-reconstructing module, and map data-calibrating module, which generates a calibration map by deriving post-impact coordinates and defining a second coordinate system to correct global maps after impacts.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the mobile platform operates in a dynamic environment with potential impacts, then the robot can perform navigation tasks, but positioning accuracy deteriorates due to collisions and impacts

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenavigation task performanceVSAvoidpositioning accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by detecting impacts in advance through vibration and acceleration sensors, then proactively triggers coordinate reconstruction before positioning errors accumulate. The impact detection module continuously monitors for collisions, and upon detection, immediately initiates the coordinate system reconstruction process to correct positioning data, preventing navigation errors rather than merely responding to them.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback by continuously monitoring positioning data quality through impact detection sensors. When impacts are detected via vibration or acceleration thresholds, the system feeds this information back to the coordinate reconstruction module, which then adjusts the coordinate system to compensate for positioning errors. This closed-loop feedback mechanism maintains positioning accuracy despite dynamic environmental disturbances.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Measurement precision

If the system continuously monitors for impacts to maintain positioning accuracy, then positioning precision is improved, but device complexity increases due to multiple detection modules

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositioning accuracyVSAvoidsystem structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system achieves multi-functionality by integrating impact detection capabilities into the existing positioning framework. The vibration detection unit and acceleration detection unit serve dual purposes: they monitor for impacts while also providing data for coordinate system reconstruction. This universal approach allows a single integrated system to perform both impact monitoring and positioning correction without requiring entirely separate subsystems.

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

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs self-service by automatically detecting impacts and triggering coordinate reconstruction without external intervention. The impact detection module autonomously monitors for collisions, and when thresholds are exceeded, it automatically initiates the coordinate system reconstruction process. This self-service mechanism reduces the need for external monitoring and manual correction, simplifying overall system operation despite the added detection capabilities.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Measurement precision

If the system reconstructs coordinates after impact to correct positioning errors, then positioning accuracy is improved, but loss of time occurs during the calibration process

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositioning accuracyVSAvoidcalibration time
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies skipping by rapidly executing the coordinate reconstruction process immediately after impact detection. Rather than performing a lengthy calibration routine, the system quickly reconstructs coordinates using the detected impact data and available sensor information, then returns to normal operation. This rushed-through approach minimizes the time lost to calibration while still achieving sufficient positioning accuracy correction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #21Skipping (Rushing through)

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary action by maintaining continuous impact monitoring and pre-computing coordinate transformation parameters during normal operation. When an impact occurs, the reconstruction process can immediately execute using pre-prepared data and established transformation relationships, rather than starting from scratch. This preliminary preparation significantly reduces the time required for post-impact coordinate reconstruction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Substantially resolves positioning errors caused by impacts, ensuring accurate navigation and positioning of mobile platforms by recalibrating maps using pre-impact and post-impact coordinates and relative coordinate relationships.

Implementation Method 1

the impact-detecting module includes a vibration-detecting unit for detecting a vibration value of the mobile platform and determining that the mobile platform is impacted upon when the vibration value is greater than a critical vibration value

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectVibration detection: Vibration

Implementation Method 2

the impact-detecting module includes an acceleration-detecting unit for detecting an acceleration value of the mobile platform and determining that the mobile platform is impacted upon when the acceleration value is greater than a critical acceleration value

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAcceleration detection: Accelerometer

Implementation Method 3

the impact-detecting module includes an inclination-detecting unit for detecting an inclination value of the mobile platform and determining that the mobile platform is impacted upon when the inclination value is greater than a critical inclination value

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectInclination detection: Spirit Level

Data Source

PatentUS11221219B2System for calibrating map data configured for mobile platform
Publication Date: 2022.01.11 TECO ELECTRIC AND MACHINERY
  • US11221219B2 patent drawing
  • US11221219B2 patent drawing
  • US11221219B2 patent drawing

AI summary

A system is applied for calibrating a map data configured for a mobile platform to generate a calibration map after an impact, and includes a map-generating module, a positioning module, an impact-detecting module, an image-analyzing module, a coordinate-reconstructing module and a map data-calibrating module. The map-generating module generates a global map with a first coordinate system. The positioning module positions a mobile platform before the impact. The impact detecting module generates a reconstructing signal after the impact upon the mobile platform is detected. The image-analyzing module searches and analyzes an image of a feature object. The coordinate-reconstructing module re-establishes a second coordinate system, and the map data-calibrating module calibrates the global map to generate the calibration map after the impact.