Mobile robot
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing mobile robots face challenges in preventing damage by automatically avoiding obstacles, leading to incomplete cleaning due to unconditional obstacle avoidance, and existing solutions require user intervention or additional hardware installations, which are inconvenient and prone to errors.
Innovation Solution
A mobile robot equipped with an obstacle determination unit, area calculation unit, and virtual wall registration unit that automatically sets a virtual wall on a map based on impact detection signals and registration priority, allowing for dynamic adjustment of cleaning areas and obstacle avoidance without user input.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the mobile robot unconditionally avoids obstacles upon detection, then the robot is protected from damage, but the cleaning area cannot be fully cleaned
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by differentiating obstacle types and applying different avoidance strategies. The obstacle determination unit classifies obstacles into categories (e.g., cleanable vs. non-cleanable), and the virtual wall registration unit selectively registers virtual walls only for non-cleanable obstacles. This localized application of obstacle avoidance ensures robot safety while maintaining cleaning coverage in areas where obstacles permit cleaning.
2Reliability
If a device for generating signals is installed to prevent robot approach, then the robot is protected from accessing restricted areas, but additional purchase costs and installation space are incurred
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service by enabling the mobile robot to autonomously determine obstacles, calculate virtual wall positions, and register virtual walls without external assistance. The obstacle determination unit, area calculation unit, and virtual wall registration unit work together to automatically create area restrictions based on the robot's own sensing and processing capabilities, eliminating the need for external signal-generating devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces mechanical/physical signal-generating devices with a software-based virtual wall system. Instead of using physical obstacles or signal-emitting devices to restrict areas, the system uses virtual walls registered in the robot's navigation system, which are processed through algorithms and displayed on a map interface, substituting physical mechanisms with information-processing mechanisms.
3Reliability
If a device for generating signals is used to restrict areas, then access control is achieved, but the robot cannot ascertain position and size of restricted areas
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback by continuously updating the robot's position and the virtual wall positions based on real-time sensing data. The area calculation unit calculates virtual wall positions relative to the robot's current location and orientation, and the virtual wall registration unit updates the map information accordingly. This feedback loop ensures the robot maintains accurate knowledge of restricted area positions and sizes throughout navigation.
4Adaptability or versatility
If the user manually sets virtual wall position through terminal, then area restriction is customized, but user burden and setting errors increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service by automatically performing all virtual wall setting operations without user intervention. The obstacle determination unit identifies obstacles, the area calculation unit computes optimal virtual wall positions, and the virtual wall registration unit registers them in the navigation system. This automated process eliminates user burden while maintaining customization based on actual obstacle detection and environmental conditions.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a mobile robot which, if an impact sensing signal is input, estimates a virtual wall-registerable area including a plurality of cells on the basis of the position where the impact sensing signal is input, and registers one of the plurality of cells in the virtual wall-registerable area as a virtual wall on the map according to registration priority.