Robot Call Control Using Sound-Based Target Selection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing robot control systems fail to specifically identify and call a target robot among multiple robots in a serving area, relying on RF and IR signals that require specific communication modules, causing user inconvenience and inefficiency.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that acquire sound information associated with a robot call, dynamically determine the call target robot based on sound direction and intensity, and provide feedback to assist the caller in identifying the correct robot, using a robot control system with an information acquisition unit, call target robot determination unit, and feedback provision unit.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If RF signals or IR signals are used to call a robot, then the robot can be called and move to the remote controller position, but the user must carry a device with specific communication modules which causes inconvenience
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces RF and IR communication modules with acoustic wave-based calling. Instead of using electromagnetic signals requiring specific communication hardware, the system uses sound waves that can be captured by microphones, allowing any user with a sound-making device (like a phone speaker) to call robots without specialized communication modules.
2Measurement precision
If RF signals or IR signals are used to call a robot, then the robot can be called, but when there are multiple robots capable of responding, it cannot specify a particular robot rather than all robots
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by having each robot equipped with a microphone that captures sound locally. The system determines which robot should respond by analyzing the sound intensity received by each robot's microphone, allowing precise identification of the nearest robot to the sound source without complex centralized signal processing.
3Productivity
If multiple robots operate in a serving place, then service coverage is improved, but it becomes difficult to dynamically determine which robot should respond to a call sound
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service by enabling each robot to independently measure the sound intensity it receives and autonomously determine whether it is the nearest robot to the sound source. This distributed decision-making approach allows multiple robots to operate efficiently while accurately identifying the correct call target without requiring complex centralized coordination.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for controlling a robot is provided. The method includes the steps of: acquiring information on a sound associated with a robot call in a serving place; determining a call target robot associated with the sound, among a plurality of robots in the serving place, on the basis of the acquired information; and providing feedback associated with the sound by the call target robot.