Optical indicium for communicating information to autonomous devices

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Solution Overview

Problem

There is a need for improved means of communicating information to robotic cleaners, as existing methods consume excessive power and lack efficiency in guiding these devices within environments.

Innovation Solution

The use of optical indicia, which are patterns or codes visible to cameras on robotic cleaners, allows for efficient communication of information, enabling localization, navigation, and action execution, such as selecting cleaning profiles or navigating to docking stations, by associating specific actions with detected patterns.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If active signals (infrared beams) are used to communicate with robotic vacuum cleaners, then the robotic cleaner can locate and navigate to the docking station, but excessive power is consumed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenavigation reliabilityVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the active infrared signal transmission system with a passive optical indicium system. Instead of using energy-intensive infrared beams to communicate docking information, the system uses static visual patterns (optical indicia) that the robotic cleaner's camera can detect and interpret, eliminating the need for continuous signal transmission and significantly reducing power consumption while maintaining navigation reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses optical indicia as visual copies or representations of docking station information. Rather than transmitting actual signals, the system creates visual patterns that encode docking instructions, which the robotic cleaner reads through its camera system, providing the same navigational function with minimal energy expenditure

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

2Use of energy by moving object

If optical indicia are used to communicate information, then power consumption is reduced and navigation efficiency is enhanced, but the system requires camera-based detection which may be less reliable in certain lighting conditions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower consumptionVSAvoiddetection reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs optical indicia with specific color properties and reflectivity characteristics that are optimized for camera detection. The visual patterns use contrasting colors and reflective properties that remain distinguishable under various lighting conditions, ensuring reliable detection by the robotic cleaner's camera system while maintaining low power consumption

Inventive Principle:

Principle #32Color changes

Data Source

PatentEP3876806B1Optical indicium for communicating information to autonomous devices

Publication Date: 2023.03.08 SHARKNINJA OPERATING LLC

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AI summary

A beacon for a robotic cleaner may include a housing and an optical indicium having an optical pattern. The optical indicium may be coupled to the housing and be viewable by a camera of the robotic cleaner. After observing the optical indicium, the robotic cleaner may be caused to carry out an action associated with at least a portion of the optical pattern.