Robot Remote Control Using Location-Linked External Camera Views

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing robot control systems struggle to provide accurate and intuitive remote management and control, especially in identifying the robot's location and surrounding environment, due to limitations in camera-based systems that may miss blind spots.

Innovation Solution

A robot control method and system that receives location information from the robot, specifies corresponding cameras in the space, and outputs images from both the robot's cameras and external cameras to a display unit, allowing comprehensive environmental awareness and remote control.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If only cameras included in the robot are used to identify surroundings, then the device complexity is reduced, but the location information accuracy deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecamera system complexityVSAvoidlocation information accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple camera systems (robot-mounted cameras and external fixed cameras) into a unified surveillance system. The control server integrates images from both sources to provide comprehensive location information, resolving the contradiction by merging simple robot cameras with external cameras to achieve accurate location tracking without excessive complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The control server acts as an intermediary that receives images from both robot-mounted cameras and external fixed cameras, processes them, and generates accurate location information. This mediator integrates data from multiple sources to achieve precise location accuracy while maintaining manageable system complexity through centralized processing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If only robot-mounted cameras are used, then the ease of operation is improved, but the surrounding environment information completeness deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveremote control easeVSAvoidsurrounding environment information
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The system merges robot-mounted cameras with external fixed cameras positioned at strategic locations. This combination provides comprehensive surrounding environment information including blind spots, while the control server processes all images to maintain ease of operation through a unified remote control interface.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The surveillance system is segmented into multiple independent camera units (robot-mounted and external fixed cameras) that cover different areas. This segmentation allows comprehensive environmental monitoring while distributing the information gathering function, reducing the information loss that would occur with a single camera system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Measurement precision

If multiple external cameras are deployed to cover blind spots, then the measurement precision of location information is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelocation information accuracyVSAvoidcamera system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The external fixed cameras serve multiple functions: they provide location information, monitor blind spots, and assist in navigation. This multi-functionality justifies the added device complexity by making the camera system more versatile and efficient, achieving high measurement precision without proportionally increasing complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The control server processes images from multiple cameras and provides feedback about location accuracy and coverage gaps. This feedback mechanism allows the system to optimize camera usage and maintain high location information accuracy while managing device complexity through intelligent image processing and selection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP3945389B1Control method and system for robot
Publication Date: 2022.09.07 NAVER LABS CORP
  • EP3945389B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3945389B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3945389B1 patent drawingFigure 3(a)~3(b)

AI summary

Disclosed are a robot control method and system capable of remotely controlling and managing a robot. The robot control method includes receiving location information of a robot from the robot located in a space; specifying a camera placed in a specific space corresponding to the location information among multiple cameras located in the space, based on the location information; receiving an image from each of a camera included in the robot and the specified camera; and outputting the images received from the camera included in the robot and the specified camera to a display unit.