Mobile Robot Safe-Area Navigation Under Anomaly Reliability Checks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing mobile robot systems face challenges in ensuring that a mobile robot can reliably move to a safe area when an anomaly is detected, particularly in scenarios where the autonomous movement function is unreliable.
Innovation Solution
A mobile robot system that includes a determiner to assess the reliability of the autonomous movement function, an information obtainer to identify safe areas, and a controller to guide the mobile robot to a safe area based on the reliability assessment and safe area information.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If the mobile robot autonomously moves to a safe area when an anomaly is detected, then the robot can respond quickly to anomalies, but the system cannot ensure reliable movement when the autonomous movement function is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a server as an intermediary between the mobile robot and the safe area navigation system. When an anomaly is detected, the robot requests safe area information from the server, which provides pre-calculated safe area locations and navigation guidance. This intermediary approach allows the robot to maintain autonomous response capability while offloading the unreliable autonomous movement function to a more reliable external system.
Solution Approach 2:
The system pre-calculates and stores safe area information before anomalies occur. The server maintains a database of safe areas and navigation routes in advance, so when an anomaly is detected, the robot can immediately access pre-prepared safe area information without needing to perform complex real-time calculations or rely on compromised autonomous movement functions.
2Reliability
If the mobile robot stops at the current location when anomaly is detected, then the robot ensures safety when autonomous function is unreliable, but the robot cannot prevent damage to the surrounding environment
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements a feedback mechanism where the robot continuously monitors anomaly states and communicates with the server. When an anomaly is detected, the robot receives feedback in the form of safe area information from the server, which guides the robot to an appropriate location. This feedback loop enables the robot to make informed decisions about whether to move or stop based on real-time system state and environmental conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The server acts as an intermediary that determines the appropriate action (move to safe area or stop) based on the anomaly type and environmental conditions. Rather than the robot making unilateral decisions, the server processes anomaly information and provides guided instructions, ensuring that the robot's actions are appropriate for the specific situation and minimize environmental harm.
Data Source
AI summary
A mobile robot that is capable of autonomous movement includes: a reliability determiner that determines reliability of an autonomous travel function of the mobile robot; a safe area obtainer that obtains information on a safe area at which the mobile robot can stop; and a controller that causes the mobile robot to move to the safe area based on the information on the safe area when, during autonomous movement of the mobile robot, an anomaly in the mobile robot is detected and the reliability determiner determines that the autonomous travel function is reliable.