Power-Assist Robot Cart Control Using User Characteristics
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Solution Overview
Problem
In large spaces like malls, airports, and golf courses, there is a need for a cart that can be easily moved by users while carrying objects, and can avoid collisions with obstacles, but existing carts are often heavy and require manual effort, lacking efficient control mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
A robot cart system that uses electric power assistance, where a camera sensor and force sensor work together with a controller to adjust movement speed and direction based on user physical characteristics, such as gender and age, to provide power-assisted movement and obstacle avoidance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If electric power is applied to assist user movement, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical control with an automated system that uses sensors (camera sensor 260, force sensor 240) and a controller 250 to detect user physical characteristics and automatically adjust motor 191 output, substituting mechanical effort with electronic control and automation
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-adjustment by automatically detecting user characteristics through sensors and autonomously controlling the motor output without requiring manual intervention from the user, enabling the cart to serve itself in adapting to different users
2Quantity of substance
If the cart is made heavy to carry objects, then load capacity is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The motor 191 driven by controller 250 provides compensating force to counteract the weight of the cart body and loaded objects, reducing the net force the user must apply to the handle assembly 120, thereby enabling easy movement even when carrying heavy loads
3Reliability
If autonomous obstacle avoidance is implemented, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The camera sensor 260 continuously monitors the environment and feeds back obstacle information to the controller 250, which automatically adjusts the moving direction of the cart to avoid collisions, creating a closed-loop feedback system for autonomous obstacle avoidance
Data Source
AI summary
A robot can include a cart to receive one or more objects; a camera sensor to photograph a periphery of the robot and capture an image of a user of the robot; a handle assembly coupled to the cart; a moving part to move the robot; a force sensor to sense a force applied to the handle assembly; and a controller configured to generate physical characteristics information on physical characteristics of the user of the robot based on the image of the user, and adjust at least one of a moving direction of the robot, a moving speed of the moving part and a value of torque applied to a motor of the moving part, based on the physical characteristics information and a magnitude of the force applied to the handle assembly sensed by the force sensor.