Range Finding System Tilt Error Correction
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Range finding systems, such as LIDAR and sonar, provide inaccurate distance measurements when tilted, especially when a robotic device transitions from a flat surface to an obstacle, as existing methods require calibration for known obstacles and additional equipment for uniform tilt correction.
Innovation Solution
A computer-integrated method that discards inaccurate readings by examining successive distance measurements for steady declines or increases, flagging and removing momentary interruptions to ensure accurate navigation and mapping, utilizing a processor to determine obstacle positions based on range finding system positions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the range finding system is used on a robotic device travelling over obstacles, then the system can navigate complex environments, but the distance measurements become inaccurate when the system is tilted
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by examining successive distance measurements to identify trends (steady declines or increases) before discarding potentially inaccurate readings. This proactive approach prevents tilted measurements from corrupting the obstacle position data, allowing the system to maintain measurement precision while navigating complex environments with obstacles.
2Measurement precision
If prior art methods are used to correct for sensor tilt, then measurement accuracy can be improved for known obstacles, but calibration is required and the system cannot handle unknown obstacles
Solution Approach 1:
The system serves itself by automatically examining successive distance measurements to identify and discard inaccurate readings caused by tilting. No external calibration or additional equipment is needed - the range finding system uses its own measurement data to detect and correct for tilt-induced errors, handling both known and unknown obstacles without increasing device complexity.
3Measurement precision
If additional equipment is added to calculate and adjust for tilt angle, then measurement accuracy during tilting can be improved, but the system complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts only the essential function needed to identify inaccurate readings - examining successive distance measurements for steady trends - and discards the need for additional tilt-sensing equipment. By taking out the complex tilt correction hardware and relying solely on the range finding system's own measurement patterns, the solution maintains measurement precision during tilting while reducing device complexity.
4Area of stationary object
If the range finding system captures readings at angled surfaces, then coverage of obstacles is improved, but the readings become inaccurate
Solution Approach 1:
The system maintains continuous examination of successive distance measurements to identify steady trends. By continuously monitoring the measurement pattern, the system can distinguish between valid distance changes (indicating proper obstacle coverage) and invalid readings (caused by tilting), thereby maintaining both obstacle coverage area and reading accuracy simultaneously.
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
This method improves the accuracy of range finding system distance readings by identifying and discarding tilted measurements, enhancing navigation and mapping capabilities without the need for additional equipment or complex calibration, especially when encountering unknown obstacles.
Implementation Method 1
Many autonomous robotic devices use range finding systems such as Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR)
Implementation Method 2
Many autonomous robotic devices use range finding systems such as Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR), sonar
Data Source
AI summary
A robot including a chassis; a set of wheels coupled to the chassis; a range finding system coupled to the robot; a plurality of sensors; a processor; and a tangible, non-transitory, machine-readable medium storing instructions that when executed by the processor effectuates operations including: obtaining, with the processor, distances to obstacles measured by the range finding system as the robot moves relative to the obstacles; and determining, with the processor, a position of the obstacle based at least partially on the distance measurements, including: identifying, with the processor, at least one position of the range finding system when encountering the obstacle; and determining, with the processor, the position of the obstacle based at least partially on the at least one position of the range finding system when encountering the obstacle.