Moving robot and control method thereof
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing moving robots struggle to accurately determine their current position on a map, especially when their position is arbitrarily changed, leading to inefficient cleaning operations and potential battery depletion due to unnecessary traveling.
Innovation Solution
A moving robot equipped with an image acquisition unit, storage, and a controller that recognizes the current position by matching it with a prestored map, allowing for precise navigation and cleaning of designated areas by extracting features from images and generating or updating the map as needed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the moving robot uses wall following operation to determine position, then the robot can eventually locate itself on the map, but the process requires numerous trials and errors leading to prolonged recognition time and unnecessary battery consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical wall-following movement system with an optical/image-based recognition system. The controller captures images of the surrounding environment using an image sensor, processes these images to extract feature information, and compares this information with prestored map data to rapidly determine the robot's position without physical exploration.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary action by prestoring comprehensive environmental map information before the robot begins operation. The map includes detailed feature data of the surrounding environment, enabling the robot to perform rapid position recognition by comparing real-time images with this pre-prepared reference data, eliminating the need for exploratory movement.
2Measurement precision
If the moving robot performs extensive trial-and-error traveling to recognize position, then the robot can locate itself on the map, but battery may be consumed before the main cleaning operation can begin
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces energy-intensive mechanical movement with low-power image capture and processing. Instead of consuming battery power through motor-driven exploration, the robot uses its image sensor to capture environmental data and processes this data computationally to determine position, significantly reducing energy consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces image data as an intermediary between the robot and the environment. Rather than directly interacting with the environment through movement, the robot uses images as a mediator to gather environmental information and determine position, eliminating the need for physical exploration and associated energy consumption.
3Productivity
If the moving robot cleans based on current position without accurate map recognition, then the robot can perform cleaning operations, but the robot may clean particular areas repeatedly and fail to return to its starting position
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback by continuously comparing the robot's actual position (determined through image recognition) with its planned position on the map. This feedback loop enables the robot to correct positioning errors, avoid redundant cleaning of already-cleaned areas, and accurately return to the starting position when required.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces mechanical position tracking methods with optical/image-based recognition. By using image sensors to capture and analyze environmental features, the robot achieves precise position determination without relying on mechanical encoders or physical markers, enabling accurate navigation and cleaning coverage.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed are a moving robot and a control method thereof, and the moving robot performs cleaning by moving based on a map and is able to determine, based on a global localization function, the current position on the map no matter where the moving robot is positioned, so that the moving robot is capable of recognizing the current position on the map, and, even when the position of the moving robot is arbitrarily changed, the moving robot is able to recognize the position thereof again and move to an exact designated area, so that the moving robot is capable of perform designated cleaning and move rapidly and accurately, thereby performing cleaning efficiently.