Mobile Robot Alarm Interaction via Communication Link
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Solution Overview
Problem
Autonomous mobile robots often trigger false alarms in alarm systems when operating outside of business hours or when the owner is absent, as their movements are incorrectly recognized by stationary sensors as intrusions.
Innovation Solution
A system where a mobile robot communicates with a stationary alarm system using a map of the environment to navigate and prevent false alarms by deactivating alarm triggers when within the monitored area and reactivating them when leaving the area, utilizing a communication link and navigation module to manage its position and send messages to the alarm system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the alarm system uses stationary sensors to detect movement in the monitored area, then intrusion detection capability is improved, but false alarms are triggered when the robot moves within the area
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a communication link as an intermediary between the robot and the alarm system. The robot communicates its position and identity to the alarm system, which acts as a mediator to distinguish between authorized robot movements and unauthorized intrusions. This resolves the contradiction by allowing the alarm system to maintain sensor monitoring while filtering out false alarms from the robot.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the robot continuously reports its position and status to the alarm system via the communication link. The alarm system uses this feedback information to adjust its detection behavior, suppressing alarm triggers when the robot is present in monitored areas. This feedback loop enables the system to maintain high intrusion detection capability while eliminating false alarms from robot movements.
2Productivity
If the robot operates autonomously outside of business hours to avoid disrupting operations, then productivity is improved, but false alarms occur due to overlap with alarm system operating times
Solution Approach 1:
The communication link serves as an intermediary that enables the robot to operate autonomously during alarm system active hours without causing false alarms. The robot can communicate its authorized presence to the alarm system, allowing operational efficiency to be maintained while the alarm system adjusts its detection sensitivity during robot operation periods.
3Measurement precision
If the robot navigates using a map of the environment, then navigation precision is improved, but the system complexity increases due to communication and coordination requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The communication link serves multiple functions: it transmits navigation position data from the robot to the alarm system, conveys alarm status information bidirectionally, and coordinates between the two systems. By making the communication interface multi-functional, the patent reduces overall system complexity while maintaining high navigation precision through continuous position reporting.
Data Source
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AI summary
A system having a mobile robot for autonomously performing activities and a statically fitted alarm installation for monitoring an area are described. According to one aspect of the invention, the robot and the alarm installation are designed to communicate with one another via a communication link. The mobile self-propelled robot is designed to use a map of the environment to navigate across a floor space through at least a portion of the area and to locate its position on the map. Triggering of an alarm by the alarm installation is prevented when the robot moves into the area to be monitored. The triggering of the alarm by the alarm installation is made possible again when the robot moves out of the area to be monitored.