Mobility Aid Robot Navigation for User Posture-Adaptive Approach
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing mobility aid robots lack adaptive navigation capabilities that account for user posture, leading to inefficient and potentially unsafe navigation due to the absence of body detection and integration with navigation functions.
Innovation Solution
A mobility aid robot equipped with a camera and navigation module that identifies user posture and adjusts its navigation trajectory to ensure safe and effective movement by planning routes that consider the user's posture and obstacles, using a combination of global and local trajectory planning algorithms and real-time obstacle detection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional navigation functions are used without body detection, then the navigation system is simple and easy to implement, but it cannot adapt to different user postures leading to unsafe and inefficient navigation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines body detection functionality with navigation functions by integrating the camera module that captures user images with the navigation system. The processor analyzes user posture from captured images and uses this information to adjust navigation trajectories, merging what were previously separate functions into a unified system that adapts to user needs.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary body detection and posture analysis before executing navigation. The processor captures user images, analyzes posture in advance, and determines appropriate navigation modes (approach, departure, or maintain current pose) before moving the mobility aid robot, ensuring safe and adaptive navigation from the outset.
2Reliability
If the robot navigates without considering user posture, then the navigation process is fast and simple, but it may cause unsafe situations and reduce user interaction quality
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback by continuously capturing user images during navigation, analyzing posture in real-time, and adjusting the navigation trajectory accordingly. The processor monitors user posture and provides feedback to the navigation system, enabling dynamic adjustments that maintain safety while efficient path planning minimizes time loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The navigation system transitions from static pre-planned paths to dynamic adaptive trajectories. The robot adjusts its navigation mode (approach, departure, or maintain current pose) based on real-time posture analysis, making the navigation process dynamic and responsive to user needs while maintaining efficiency through optimized path selection.
3Ease of operation
If the robot uses fixed navigation trajectories, then the navigation implementation is straightforward, but it cannot provide adaptive service for different user needs and postures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms fixed navigation trajectories into dynamic adaptive paths. The processor determines different navigation modes (approach user, depart from user, or maintain current pose) based on real-time posture analysis, allowing the robot to adapt its navigation behavior to user needs while maintaining straightforward implementation through mode-based control logic.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes navigation parameters (trajectory, speed, approach angle) based on detected user posture. By adjusting these parameters according to posture analysis results, the robot provides adaptive navigation service while maintaining ease of operation through parameter-based control rather than complex decision-making.
Data Source
AI summary
Navigation of a mobility aid robot having a camera and gripping part(s) disposed toward different directions is disclosed. The mobility aid robot is navigated to approach a user by identifying a posture of the user through the camera, determining a mode of the robot according to a type of the specified task to be performed on the user and the identified posture of the user, controlling the robot to move according to a planned trajectory corresponding to the determined mode of the robot, and turning the robot upon reaching the desired pose such that the gripping part faces the user, in response to the determined mode of the robot corresponding to the specified task of an assisting type and the user at one of a standing posture and a sitting posture.