Mobile Robot Boundary Mapping Using Tags and Distance Sensing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing mobile robot systems face limitations in accurately and conveniently setting boundaries for driving regions, particularly outdoors where terrain and obstacles are diverse, leading to usability, safety, and reliability issues.

Innovation Solution

A mobile robot system that uses a signal processing device with receiving tags and a distance sensor to recognize coordinate information based on transmission signals and distance measurements, allowing for the generation of boundary information along a designated path.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If beacons are installed at boundary portions to enable position determination, then position recognition accuracy is improved, but device complexity and installation cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveposition recognition accuracyVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the boundary setting function from the mobile robot itself and performs it externally using a remote controller. The robot's boundary recognition capabilities are minimized to only detecting pre-set boundary markers, while the complex boundary definition and marker placement operations are performed by the external remote controller, reducing the robot's system complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces boundary markers as intermediary objects that mediate between the boundary definition and the robot's position recognition. Instead of the robot directly understanding complex boundary definitions, the boundary markers serve as simple physical intermediaries that encode boundary information in a form the robot can easily detect through its sensors.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If boundary setting is performed based on beacon installation state, then boundary region can be defined, but boundary setting flexibility and accuracy deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveboundary setting flexibilityVSAvoidboundary setting accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary boundary definition and marker placement operations using the remote controller before the mobile robot begins its operation. The user pre-defines the boundary shape and position, places markers accordingly, and then the robot simply follows the pre-established boundary, ensuring both flexibility in boundary design and accuracy in execution.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent makes the boundary setting process dynamic and adjustable by allowing users to modify boundary definitions and marker positions at any time using the remote controller. The system can adapt to changing requirements by redefining boundaries and relocating markers without requiring hardware changes or complex reconfiguration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Reliability

If multiple beacons are distributed at boundary portions, then driving region can be recognized, but ease of operation deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedriving region recognition reliabilityVSAvoidboundary setting convenience
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent enables the remote controller to automatically perform boundary definition and marker placement operations without requiring manual intervention for each individual marker. The system calculates optimal marker positions based on the defined boundary shape and automatically places markers at these positions, making the operation self-service and significantly improving ease of use while maintaining reliable boundary recognition.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

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

Enables simple, convenient, and accurate boundary setting for mobile robots, enhancing their usability, efficiency, and control capabilities by recognizing coordinate information and adjusting to various driving conditions.

Implementation Method 1

measures a distance to a point to which a measurement signal is irradiated based on a result of irradiating the measurement signal to a ground surface

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight reflection: Reflection

Implementation Method 2

a plurality of transmitters installed in a boundary region of a driving region to transmit transmission signals, a signal receiving device that receives the transmission signal

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic signal reception: Electromagnetic Induction

Data Source

PatentEP4063079B1Mobile robot system and boundary information generation method for mobile robot system
Publication Date: 2024.12.18 LG ELECTRONICS INC
  • EP4063079B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1B
  • EP4063079B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3A
  • EP4063079B1 patent drawingFigure 3B~3C

AI summary

The present specification relates to a mobile robot system and a boundary information generation method for the mobile robot system, the mobile robot system comprising a signal processing device that comprises a receiving tag for receiving a transmission signal and a distance sensor, so as to recognize coordinate information about a spot at which the point of the distance sensor is designated on the basis of the reception result of the receiving tag and the distance measurement result of the distance sensor, thereby generating boundary information according to the path designated as the point of the distance sensor on the basis of the recognized coordinate information.