Movable Device Risk Mapping for Dynamic Obstacle Conflicts
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing safety standards for movable devices in dynamic environments often require deviations from planned routes to avoid collisions, leading to decreased efficiency and potential obstruction of other devices.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus for determining a risk of conflict by dividing space into positions, using a conflict function and risk values based on obstacle presence, allowing iterative learning and adaptation of risk levels as the device moves, enabling more accurate risk mapping and route optimization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If safety standards require deviations from planned routes to avoid collisions, then safety is improved, but efficiency and productivity deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic risk assessment by continuously updating risk values for different positions based on real-time obstacle detection and conflict functions. Instead of static safety zones, the system dynamically adjusts risk levels as obstacles move, allowing the movable device to adapt its path planning in real-time. This resolves the contradiction by enabling safety-critical deviations only when and where actually needed, rather than following conservative static safety margins that reduce efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameter of risk assessment from binary (safe/unsafe) to continuous (risk values between 0 and 1). By calculating conflict functions that consider obstacle position, velocity, and trajectory, the system generates nuanced risk values that allow for more efficient path planning. This enables the device to operate in areas with acceptable risk levels while maintaining safety, resolving the contradiction between safety and efficiency.
2Reliability
If risk-averse path planning is used to avoid collisions, then safety is improved, but the device may obstruct other devices and overall productivity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where risk values are continuously updated based on obstacle detection, conflict function calculations, and actual collision outcomes. The system learns from past interactions and adjusts risk assessments in real-time, allowing the movable device to make informed decisions about path deviations. This feedback loop enables the system to avoid unnecessary obstructions while maintaining collision avoidance, resolving the contradiction between safety and overall productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary risk assessment by calculating conflict functions and determining risk values for potential positions before the movable device actually moves there. This allows the device to proactively plan paths that minimize obstructions to other devices while maintaining safety. By anticipating potential conflicts and planning ahead, the system avoids reactive deviations that would reduce productivity, resolving the contradiction between collision avoidance and system throughput.
3Reliability
If strict safety margins are enforced, then collision risk is reduced, but task completion time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms safety margins from fixed, conservative values to dynamic, calculated risk values based on actual obstacle conditions. The conflict function considers multiple parameters (obstacle position, velocity, trajectory, device speed) to generate precise risk assessments. This allows the movable device to operate closer to actual safety boundaries rather than following arbitrary safety margins, reducing unnecessary delays while maintaining collision risk reduction.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements dynamic safety assessment that updates risk values in real-time as obstacles move and conditions change. Instead of enforcing static safety margins that require constant deviations, the system dynamically adjusts risk levels based on current conditions. This allows the movable device to maintain task completion speed while adapting to actual safety requirements, resolving the contradiction between collision risk reduction and task completion time.
Data Source
AI summary
In one aspect, a method of determining a risk of conflict between a movable device and potential obstacles is provided. The method includes dividing a space into a plurality of positions. At each of a plurality of successive times, the method further includes: determining a conflict function for the movable device in a first position at a respective time, the first position having one or more neighbouring positions, wherein the conflict function is determined based on whether or not an obstacle is present in any of the first position and the one or more neighbouring positions; and determining a respective risk value for at least one of the first position and the one or more neighbouring positions using the conflict function and a risk value associated with a second position, wherein the movable device is planned to move from the first position to the second position at a subsequent time.