Mobile robot and control method for controlling the same
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional mobile robots lack accurate object attribute recognition, leading to unreliable object avoidance and inefficient cleaning performance, as they struggle to differentiate between objects they can climb over and those that pose a hazard, such as electric wires or human hair.
Innovation Solution
A mobile robot equipped with an image acquisition unit for continuous image capture, a sensor unit for object detection, and a controller that uses machine learning to analyze images and adjust its travel pattern based on object attributes, enabling accurate recognition and avoidance of obstacles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional sensors (infrared or ultrasonic) are used for object detection, then the mobile robot can sense object presence and distance, but it cannot accurately determine object attributes to differentiate between climbable objects and hazardous objects
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple sensing modalities (infrared sensor, ultrasonic sensor, and image acquisition unit) into an integrated object recognition system. The controller processes data from all sensors to determine both object presence and object attributes, enabling accurate differentiation between climbable objects and hazardous objects while maintaining a unified control architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The image acquisition unit serves as an intermediary that captures visual information about objects, which the controller then analyzes to determine object attributes. This intermediary component bridges the gap between simple distance detection and complex attribute recognition, allowing the robot to identify hazardous objects without directly contacting them.
2Productivity
If the mobile robot moves forward when an object is detected, then it can efficiently clean the area, but it may collide with hazardous objects or get restricted by obstacles it cannot climb
Solution Approach 1:
The controller performs preliminary analysis of object attributes using sensor data and image processing before the mobile robot commits to a movement action. By determining whether an object is hazardous or climbable in advance, the robot can plan its travel path to avoid collisions and restrictions, ensuring safe and efficient cleaning operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors sensor inputs and adjusts travel decisions based on real-time object attribute recognition. When hazardous objects are detected, the controller provides feedback to modify the travel pattern, preventing the robot from moving forward into dangerous situations while maintaining efficient cleaning performance in safe areas.
3Productivity
If the mobile robot attempts to climb all detected objects, then it can maintain continuous forward motion, but it may get restricted by electric wires or suction human hair causing accidents
Solution Approach 1:
The robot dynamically adjusts its interaction strategy with detected objects based on real-time attribute recognition. Instead of following a fixed climbing behavior, the controller modifies travel decisions adaptively: attempting to climb safe objects like thresholds while avoiding hazardous objects like electric wires and human hair, thereby maintaining continuous safe operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses image processing to visually distinguish between different object types, effectively 'color-coding' objects by their attributes. Hazardous objects are identified through visual characteristics that differ from climbable objects, enabling the robot to selectively interact with safe objects while avoiding harmful ones.
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
The mobile robot achieves reliable object recognition and avoidance by accurately determining object attributes and adjusting its movement patterns, enhancing user convenience and cleaning efficiency through improved operational efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
the ultrasonic sensor emits an ultrasound wave having a predetermined period and, in response to ultrasonic waves reflected by an object, determines a distance to the object based on a difference between the time to emit the ultrasonic waves and the time for the ultrasonic waves to return to the object
Implementation Method 2
the infrared sensor determines presence of an object and a distance to the object based on an amount of light reflected by the object or a time taken to receive the reflected light
Data Source
AI summary
A mobile robot includes a travel drive unit configured to move a main body, an image acquisition unit configured to acquire a plurality of images by continuously photographing surroundings of the main body, a storage configured to store the plurality of continuous images acquired by the image acquisition unit, a sensor unit having one or more sensors configured to sense an object during the movement of the main body, and a controller configured to, in response to the sensing of the object by the sensor unit, select an image acquired at a specific point in time earlier than an object sensing time of the sensor unit from among the plurality of continuous images based on a moving direction and a moving speed of the main body, and recognize an attribute of the object included in the selected image acquired at the specific point in time.