Modular Robot Navigation System with Hardware Independence
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current robot navigation technologies are difficult to apply across different robot manufacturers and lack the ability to modify detailed navigation functionalities independently of hardware, limiting their versatility and adaptability.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus for robot navigation that creates a robot navigation map, calculates a target control velocity using sensor signals and user commands, and includes modules for path planning and obstacle avoidance, allowing for reconfiguration of navigation components into three categories: map, task, and device categories, enabling independent hardware implementation and modification.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If robot navigation technologies are designed to be suitable only for specific robot companies' robots, then the navigation functionality can be optimized for those specific robots, but it becomes difficult to apply to robots manufactured by other companies and difficult to modify detailed navigation functionalities
Solution Approach 1:
The navigation system is divided into independent modules including sensor units, navigation control units, and robot drive units. Each module can be independently developed, tested, and applied to different robot platforms, enabling cross-company applicability while maintaining reliable navigation functionality through modular architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The navigation control unit is designed with universal interfaces and standardized communication protocols that allow it to work with various types of sensors and robot drive units from different manufacturers. This universal design enables the same navigation algorithm to be applied across multiple robot platforms while maintaining optimized performance.
2Reliability
If robot navigation technologies are designed with fixed detailed navigation functionalities, then the system can operate reliably, but it becomes difficult to reconfigure or modify navigation components for different applications
Solution Approach 1:
The navigation system employs dynamic configuration capabilities where the navigation control unit can load and switch between different navigation algorithms and parameters based on the specific application requirements. This allows the system to maintain reliable operation for each specific task while being easily reconfigurable for different applications such as cleaning, guidance, crime prevention, and load conveyance.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple navigation functionalities and algorithms are pre-configured and stored in the navigation control unit, allowing rapid switching between different modes of operation. This preliminary preparation enables the system to reliably execute any pre-programmed navigation task while maintaining the ability to adapt to different applications without requiring system redesign.
3Adaptability or versatility
If navigation components are implemented independently of hardware, then the system can be easily applied to various types of robots from different manufacturers, but it requires a more complex software architecture to manage hardware independence
Solution Approach 1:
A standardized interface layer is introduced between the hardware components and the navigation algorithms. This intermediary layer provides uniform communication protocols and data formats, allowing navigation components to be implemented independently of specific hardware while managing the complexity through standardization rather than requiring complex custom integration for each hardware platform.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of navigating a robot includes creating a robot navigation map using a map database required for navigation of the robot; and creating a path on which no obstacle is located in the map database using the created robot navigation map. Further, the method of navigating the robot includes primarily controlling the robot so that the robot travels along the created path; and secondarily controlling the robot so that the robot avoids an obstacle on the path.