Autonomous Path Robot Navigation for Snow Clearing in Tight Areas
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current snow removal methods are labor-intensive, costly, and inefficient, particularly in areas inaccessible to large vehicles, requiring manual shoveling which is the slowest and most expensive method, and pose challenges in hiring, managing, and insuring laborers.
Innovation Solution
An autonomous path treatment system comprising a robot equipped with sensors and a controller that generates a path program based on coordinates and directions, allowing it to autonomously clear paths, including sidewalks and areas inaccessible to large vehicles, using GPS, RADAR, LIDAR, and other sensors for obstacle detection and navigation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If manual shoveling is used to clear snow in areas inaccessible to large vehicles, then the ability to clear difficult-to-reach areas is improved, but the labor cost, time consumption, and physical difficulty increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical shoveling with an autonomous robotic system equipped with sensors (GPS, RADAR, LIDAR) and automated navigation capabilities. The robot autonomously navigates to inaccessible areas, detects obstacles, and clears snow without human physical intervention, thereby maintaining the ability to reach difficult locations while dramatically improving clearing speed and reducing labor requirements
Solution Approach 2:
The autonomous path treatment robot operates independently without requiring human operators to physically presence at the work site. The system self-navigates using GPS coordinates and directional data, self-monitors through onboard sensors for obstacle detection, and self-executes the snow clearing function, eliminating the need for manual labor while maintaining operational capability in inaccessible areas
2Adaptability or versatility
If manual labor is used for snow removal, then flexibility in handling various path conditions is improved, but the complexity of hiring, training, managing, and insuring laborers increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent substitutes the human labor management system with an autonomous robotic system. The robot's onboard computer processes path condition data from sensors and automatically adjusts navigation and clearing operations, replacing the need for hiring, training, and managing human workers while maintaining adaptability to various path conditions through programmable response algorithms
Solution Approach 2:
The autonomous robot acts as an intermediary between the snow removal objective and the physical environment. Instead of directly managing human laborers, the system uses automated control algorithms and sensor feedback loops to mediate the interaction between the clearing mechanism and varying path conditions, thereby eliminating labor management complexity while preserving operational flexibility
3Productivity
If large vehicle plows are used to clear snow, then the clearing speed and efficiency are improved, but the ability to access areas with obstacles (walls, edging, curbs) is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the snow removal function into specialized segments: large vehicle plows handle open areas where high-speed clearing is needed, while autonomous robotic units handle obstructed areas requiring precision navigation. This segmentation allows each system to operate in its optimal environment, maintaining overall productivity while extending coverage to previously inaccessible areas
Solution Approach 2:
The autonomous robot changes the operational parameters of snow removal by using sensor-based navigation (GPS, RADAR, LIDAR) instead of human visual assessment, enabling precise navigation around obstacles. The system adjusts its clearing parameters based on real-time sensor feedback, allowing it to operate effectively in confined spaces where large plows cannot access, thereby expanding versatility without sacrificing clearing efficiency
Data Source
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AI summary
An autonomous path treatment system and associated path treatment method uses a mobile path recording device having a locator, a processor and firmware to capture a sequence of coordinates and directions of travel of a path as the mobile device is moved along the path and generate a path program file. The system also has an autonomous path treatment robot having: a treatment mechanism for treating the path; a controller having a processor and memory storing firmware that when executed obeys steps of the path program file to control the motor and the treatment mechanism to treat the path; and a server configured to execute a path program to process the captured sequence of coordinates and directions into the path program file containing instructions for controlling the autonomous path treatment robot to treat the path based upon the coordinates.