Robot Boundary Post Mapping With Ultrasonic and Vision Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current robotic systems face challenges in economically and efficiently determining the geometry of their working region and tracking their position within it, as microcontrollers lack the complexity and cost-effectiveness to replicate human mapping and tracking capabilities.
Innovation Solution
A local mapping and tracking system utilizing RF transceivers and ultrasonic sensors placed on robots and boundary posts, combined with a camera system for image-based tracking, to determine the geometry of the working region and the robot's position relative to its boundaries, guiding the robot's movement and route planning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a robot uses complex microcontrollers or super computers to replicate human mapping and tracking capabilities, then the mapping and tracking precision is improved, but the system cost and complexity increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces boundary posts as intermediary objects placed at the working region boundaries. These posts contain visual markers that serve as mediators between the robot and the boundary, enabling the robot to detect and map boundaries through simple visual recognition rather than complex computational processing. The boundary posts act as external references that simplify the robot's tracking task.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses visual markers on boundary posts that create a simplified representation of the working region boundary. Instead of requiring the robot to process complex spatial information, the system creates visual copies of boundary positions through these markers, which the robot can detect using simple cameras or sensors. This copying approach reduces computational requirements while maintaining mapping accuracy.
2Measurement precision
If a robot uses complex microcontrollers or super computers to replicate human mapping and tracking capabilities, then the mapping and tracking precision is improved, but the system cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The boundary posts serve as low-cost intermediary objects that enable precise mapping without requiring expensive robot hardware. By placing simple visual markers on boundary posts, the system achieves accurate boundary detection using inexpensive robot sensors, thereby reducing overall system cost while maintaining high measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The boundary posts are simple, inexpensive objects that can be easily manufactured and deployed. Rather than investing in costly robotic systems with advanced processing capabilities, the patent uses multiple low-cost boundary posts with visual markers to achieve the same mapping and tracking functions, significantly reducing system manufacturing cost.
3Ease of manufacture
If the robot determines the geometry of the working region using simple and economic methods, then the system cost is reduced, but the mapping and tracking accuracy may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The boundary posts act as precise intermediary references that enhance mapping accuracy despite using simple robot sensors. The visual markers on the boundary posts provide high-contrast, easily detectable features that enable accurate position and orientation determination, compensating for the simplicity of the robot's detection system and maintaining high measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameters of the working environment by introducing boundary posts with specific visual characteristics (color, pattern, shape). These parameter changes in the environment make it easier for simple robot sensors to achieve accurate detection, thereby maintaining high mapping precision while using low-cost, simple robotic systems.
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 efficient and cost-effective mapping and tracking of the working region, allowing robots to navigate and perform tasks within defined boundaries, improving operational accuracy and reducing the need for excessive computational resources.
Implementation Method 1
The ultrasonic transmitter on the robot transmits an ultrasonic wave signal toward the boundary posts, and the ultrasonic receivers on the boundary posts receive the ultrasonic waves from the robot
Implementation Method 2
The RF transceivers are also used to transmit the data, and the transmitted data may be the distance, the clock times, the boundary post ID, and the direction of sound waves
Implementation Method 3
The RF transceivers can either transmit or receive RF signals
Implementation Method 4
The camera takes the images or videos of the regions to determine the position of the robot with respect to the boundary of the working region
Data Source
AI summary
A robotic mapping and tracking system including a robot and boundary posts are disclosed. The robot includes an ultrasonic transmitter, a processor and a camera component. The boundary posts are configured to be placed adjacent to a boundary of a working region. Each boundary post of the plurality of boundary posts includes an ultrasonic receiver. Time-of-flights of the ultrasonic waves are measured to identify distances in between the robot and boundary posts. The camera component of the robot captures an image of an environment of the robot. The processor of the robot analyzes the image of the environment and identifies at least a portion of the working region in front of the robot from the image. The processor of the robot determines a moving route based on the identified portion of the working region in front of the robot and the distances in between the robot and the boundary posts.