Robot Camera Sliding for Overlapped Image Position Recognition
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Solution Overview
Problem
Moving robots struggle to accurately recognize their position, especially at high speeds, due to the lack of overlapped areas in acquired images, which limits their ability to infer relative information between objects.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a robot with slidably moving cameras on its lateral sides or rotating cameras on its upper surface, controlled by an inertial measurement unit (IMU) sensor, ensures the acquisition of images with overlapped areas by adjusting the lens position based on movement information.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the robot moves at high speeds, then productivity is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates due to lack of overlapped areas in images
Solution Approach 1:
The lens is made dynamically adjustable through slidable movement controlled by a drive unit. Based on movement information from the IMU sensor, the lens position is dynamically changed to compensate for robot motion, ensuring that overlapped areas are captured in images even when the robot moves at high speeds. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction by allowing high-speed operation while maintaining position recognition accuracy.
2Device complexity
If fixed cameras are used, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision deteriorates due to inability to capture overlapped areas during movement
Solution Approach 1:
The camera system incorporates a slidable lens with drive unit controlled by IMU-based movement information. This dynamic mechanism allows the lens to adjust its position to capture overlapped areas during robot movement, achieving accurate position recognition without significantly increasing overall device complexity. The structured approach to lens movement provides a practical balance between complexity and performance.
3Device complexity
If no lens movement control is implemented, then device complexity is reduced, but position recognition accuracy deteriorates at high speeds
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback control using movement information from the IMU sensor to control lens position. The IMU sensor continuously provides movement data, and based on this feedback, the drive unit adjusts the lens position in real-time to ensure overlapped areas are captured. This feedback mechanism enables accurate position recognition at high speeds without requiring overly complex control systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex mechanical camera positioning systems with a more streamlined approach: a slidable lens controlled by a drive unit based on IMU data. This substitution simplifies the overall control system while achieving the same goal of capturing overlapped areas for accurate position recognition during high-speed movement.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein are a method of acquiring an image for recognizing a position and a robot implementing the same. In the method and robot, information value concerning movement of the robot is measured to efficiently acquire images including overlapped areas, and lenses of cameras on both sides of the robot are slided in a direction opposite to a direction of movement of the robot based on the measured information value concerning movement.