Mobile Robot Depth Detection Using Diverged Light Beams
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Solution Overview
Problem
Mobile robots navigating unknown environments face challenges in accurately measuring depth and making appropriate movements due to insufficient detection results from sensors, which can lead to unexpected negative consequences.
Innovation Solution
A mobile robot system comprising a light emitting unit, processing unit, optical component, image sensing unit, and control unit that emits a main beam, diverges it into sub-beams, and uses reflected beams to calculate depth information, allowing the robot to adjust its behavior and movement accordingly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If a mobile robot uses sensors to detect the environment, then it can obtain detection results, but the detection results are insufficient leading to unexpected negative consequences
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the environment detection into multiple depth ranges (first depth range and second depth range) and uses different detection methods for each range. The light emitting unit emits light beams to detect objects at different distances, with the image sensing unit capturing reflected light to generate depth information. This segmentation of detection space resolves the contradiction by ensuring comprehensive information coverage across all depth ranges, preventing information loss while maintaining navigation reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary depth detection by emitting light beams and capturing reflected light before the mobile robot makes navigation decisions. The control unit calculates depth information based on the captured images and uses this pre-acquired depth data to determine the robot's movement. This preliminary action ensures that sufficient detection information is obtained in advance, preventing information loss and improving navigation reliability by avoiding unexpected consequences.
2Productivity
If the mobile robot moves quickly in an unknown environment, then productivity increases, but the risk of unexpected negative consequences increases due to insufficient detection
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements continuous depth detection by constantly emitting light beams and capturing reflected light as the mobile robot moves. The light emitting unit and image sensing unit operate continuously to provide real-time depth information, ensuring that detection action continues without interruption. This continuous detection maintains navigation safety even at high movement speeds by providing up-to-date environmental information, resolving the contradiction between productivity and reliability.
3Device complexity
If the mobile robot uses a single detection method, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision of depth information is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a multi-functional detection system where the light emitting unit serves multiple purposes: emitting light beams for depth detection, and the image sensing unit captures reflected light to generate both depth information and visual information. The same hardware components perform multiple detection functions, achieving high measurement precision without significantly increasing device complexity. This multi-functionality resolves the contradiction by providing accurate depth measurement while keeping the system relatively simple.
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 the mobile robot to effectively navigate and interact with its environment by accurately determining depth and making relevant behavioral adjustments, such as changing speed or direction, to avoid obstacles and optimize paths.
Implementation Method 1
a light emitting unit (101) emits a main beam (LM)
Implementation Method 2
The optical component (103) converges the reflected beams (LR1-LR4) to a first collected beam (SDT1)
Implementation Method 3
The image sensing unit (104) converts the first collected beam (SDT1) into a first detection result (IFM1)
Data Source
AI summary
A mobile robot including a light emitting unit, a processing unit, an optical component, an image sensing unit, a control unit and a moving unit is provided. The light emitting unit emits a main beam. The processing unit diverges the main beam to a plurality of sub-beams. The sub-beams constitute a light covering an area. When a portion of the sub-beams irradiate a first object, the first object reflects the sub-beam and a plurality of reflected beams are reflected. The optical component receives the reflected beams and converges it to a first collected beam. The image sensing unit converts the first collected beam into a first detection result. The control unit calculates depth information according to the first detection result. The control unit activates the relevant behavior of the mobile robot according to the depth information and controls the mobile robot through the moving unit.