Projected Light Obstacle Detection for Floating Hazard Sensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Self-guiding devices, such as autonomous vehicles and robots, face challenges in detecting floating obstacles and preventing collisions or falls, as conventional sensors like ultrasonic and infrared sensors may not effectively determine the spatial relationship and distance to obstacles, especially when obstacles are at varying heights or have complex geometries.
Innovation Solution
A system utilizing a light emitter and light sensor, where a linear or circular indicator light is projected onto the path and sensed, allowing the system to determine spatial relationships and distances by analyzing features like length, position, and slope of the light segments, enabling timely avoidance measures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional sensors (ultrasonic, infrared) are used to detect obstacles, then the device can detect the presence of nearby objects, but the sensors cannot effectively determine the spatial relationship and distance to obstacles at varying heights or with complex geometries
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from conventional point-based or single-dimension sensing to a two-dimensional light pattern projection approach. By projecting a light pattern (line or grid) onto the obstacle surface and analyzing the reflected pattern's geometric distortion, the system captures spatial information across multiple dimensions simultaneously, enabling accurate distance and height measurement for obstacles of varying geometries
Solution Approach 2:
The patent divides the light source into multiple segments (e.g., line arrays or grid patterns) that can be independently controlled and projected onto different portions of the obstacle. This segmentation allows the system to map the three-dimensional shape of obstacles by analyzing how each light segment reflects off different surfaces, thereby determining spatial relationships and distances to obstacles at varying heights
2Reliability
If a light emitter projects a linear light as an indicator light onto the path, then the system can detect floating obstacles by segmenting the light, but the device complexity increases due to the need for precise positioning and calibration of the light emitter and sensor
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the obstacle itself as part of the detection mechanism. The floating obstacle intercepts and reflects the projected light pattern back to the sensor, making the obstacle an active participant in the detection process. This self-service approach eliminates the need for additional active sensors on the obstacle and reduces system complexity by using the environment's natural properties
Solution Approach 2:
The light pattern serves as an intermediary between the emitter and sensor. Instead of requiring direct line-of-sight detection or complex multi-sensor arrays, the projected light acts as a mediator that carries spatial information from the obstacle to the sensor, simplifying the overall system architecture while maintaining high detection reliability
3Productivity
If the light sensor senses the indicator light to determine spatial relationship, then the system can compute distance and prevent collisions, but the measurement precision may be insufficient for close-range or rapidly approaching obstacles
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs periodic projection of light patterns at high frequency, creating a continuous stream of spatial measurements. This periodic action allows the system to track rapidly approaching obstacles in real-time, computing distance and velocity by analyzing changes in the reflected light pattern over time intervals, thereby maintaining both high response speed and measurement precision
Solution Approach 2:
The system projects the light pattern in advance along the device's path before actual contact with the obstacle occurs. This preliminary action creates a safety margin, allowing the system to detect and respond to obstacles at greater distances, thereby improving both the precision of distance measurement and the time available for collision avoidance maneuvers
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Effectively prevents collisions and falls by accurately determining the distance and movement trends of obstacles, allowing the self-guiding device to take appropriate avoidance actions, enhancing safety and navigation capabilities.
Implementation Method 1
The light emitter emits a linear light as an indicator light that is a vertical linear light being projected onto a path the self-guiding machine travels toward
Implementation Method 2
The light sensor being coupled to the controller is used to sense the indicator light projected onto the path
Data Source
AI summary
A system for obstacle detection adapted to a self-guiding machine is provided. The system includes a controller, a linear light source and a light sensor. The linear light source and the light sensor are set apart at a distance. When the linear light source emits an indicator light being a vertical linear light projected onto a path the self-guiding machine travels toward, the light sensor senses the indicator light. The vertical linear light is segmented into a first segment projected to a ground and a second segment projected to a floating obstacle when the self-guiding machine approaches the floating obstacle with a height from the ground and the indicator light is projected to the floating obstacle, in which the second segment of the light sensed by the light sensor is determined as the floating obstacle in front of the self-guiding machine.