Mobile Robot Guarding Using Distance-Based Speed Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current physical guarding systems for mobile robots are cumbersome, requiring significant infrastructure, interfering with operations, and difficult to reconfigure, especially in dense environments, necessitating a more efficient and customizable solution to ensure safety without compromising productivity.
Innovation Solution
A system that uses location information from sensors to calculate safe operating parameters for mobile robots based on the distance to entities in their environment, dynamically adjusting speed and operation to ensure safety while maximizing efficiency, reducing the need for physical barriers and infrastructure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If physical guarding systems (cages, curtains) are used to protect entities from mobile robots, then safety of entities is improved, but warehouse space is consumed and operations are interfered with
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces physical guarding systems (mechanical barriers like cages and curtains) with a sensor-based monitoring system that uses cameras and processors to detect entities and dynamically control robot operations, eliminating the need for physical space-consuming barriers while maintaining safety
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates a virtual model of the physical environment by capturing images with cameras and processing them to generate location information about entities, allowing the robot to operate safely based on this virtual representation rather than physical barriers
2Reliability
If physical guarding systems are deployed to ensure robot safety, then entity protection is improved, but ease of reconfiguration is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts robot operating parameters in real-time based on the current locations of entities detected by sensors, allowing flexible adaptation to changing environmental conditions without physical reconfiguration, unlike static physical guarding systems
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operating parameters of the robot (speed, acceleration, operational mode) based on processed location information from sensors, enabling the system to adapt to different safety scenarios without physical reconfiguration
3Reliability
If physical guarding systems are used to define work zones, then safety boundaries are established, but productivity is reduced due to setup time and operational interference
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces physical guarding systems with sensor-based monitoring and software control, eliminating setup time for physical barriers and avoiding operational interference, thereby maintaining safety boundaries while improving productivity
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary detection of entities using sensors before the robot begins operation, allowing the robot to adjust its operating parameters in advance based on the detected environment, ensuring safety without requiring physical guarding setup
Data Source
AI summary
A computing device receives location information for a mobile robot. The computing device also receives location information for an entity in an environment of the mobile robot. The computing device determines a distance between the mobile robot and the entity in the environment of the mobile robot. The computing device determines one or more operating parameters for the mobile robot. The one or more operating parameters are based on the determined distance.