Mobile Robot 3D Scanning for User-Defined Areas of Interest
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for autonomous scanning of areas of interest by robots are inefficient as they often require extensive human interaction and time, as they scan the entire environment equally, wasting time on uninteresting areas, and require human presence during scanning.
Innovation Solution
A method and system where a user defines areas of interest using a mobile device, generating identification data that includes image, position, and path data, which is then used by a mobile robot equipped with SLAM functionality to autonomously navigate and scan these areas, minimizing human effort and time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If the robot scans the entire environment equally, then complete coverage is achieved, but time is wasted on uninteresting areas
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the environment into multiple areas of interest (AOIs) based on user input, allowing the robot to segment its scanning task. Instead of uniformly scanning the entire environment, the robot focuses only on segmented regions identified by the user through mobile device input, thereby reducing unnecessary scanning time while maintaining completeness of coverage for relevant areas.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by allowing different regions of the environment to have different scanning priorities. User-defined areas of interest receive focused attention and scanning resources, while uninteresting areas are excluded or minimized. This creates a non-uniform scanning strategy where scanning intensity and duration are adapted to the local importance of each region.
2Ease of operation
If a user defines areas of interest using a mobile device, then human effort is reduced, but the system requires additional devices and data processing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a mobile device as an intermediary between the user and the robot. The mobile device captures images, processes them to identify areas of interest, and transmits this information to the robot. This intermediary simplifies the user's task to merely capturing images while the complex processing is handled automatically, reducing direct user effort despite adding a device to the system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses image data captured by the mobile device as a copy or representation of the physical environment. Instead of requiring the user to manually define complex 3D boundaries or coordinates, the system creates a digital copy (image) of the area of interest, which is then processed to extract scanning parameters. This copying approach simplifies user interaction while enabling automated robot navigation.
3Extent of automation
If the robot autonomously navigates to defined areas of interest, then human presence during scanning is minimized, but navigation time and localization complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by having the user define and mark areas of interest before the robot begins its autonomous scanning task. The mobile device captures images and processes them in advance to identify target locations. This pre-processing of spatial information allows the robot to navigate directly to known destinations without real-time human guidance, reducing the need for human presence while enabling efficient autonomous navigation.
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
Enables efficient scanning of user-defined areas of interest without human intervention, reducing the time spent on scanning and navigation, as the robot focuses on specific areas of interest, optimizing resource use and reducing the need for human presence during scanning.
Implementation Method 1
The mobile robot having a SLAM functionality for simultaneous localization and mapping and being configured to autonomously move through the environment using the SLAM functionality
Implementation Method 2
performing a scanning procedure at each defined area of interest to generate the scan data of the respective area of interest
Data Source
AI summary
A system and a method for generating three-dimensional scan data of areas of interest, the method comprising a user defining the areas of interest using a mobile device in the environment, and a scanning device performing a scanning procedure at each defined area of interest to generate the scan data of the respective area of interest, wherein defining the areas of interest comprises, for each area of interest, generating identification data, wherein generating the identification data at least comprises generating image data of the respective area of interest, and the scanning procedure at each defined area of interest is performed by a mobile robot comprising the scanning device and being configured for autonomously performing a scan of a surrounding area using the scanning device, the mobile robot having a SLAM functionality for simultaneous localization and mapping and being configured to autonomously move through the environment using the SLAM functionality.