Multi-Camera Robot Control for Elevator Obstacle Navigation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing robot control systems for mobile robots in facilities, such as hospitals, fail to accurately grasp information about the robot's position and obstacles outside the elevator, leading to inefficient movement and potential collisions.
Innovation Solution
A robot control system that uses multiple cameras, both inside and outside the facility, to determine the robot's position, obstacles, and the shape of carried articles, setting a moving route to avoid obstacles by capturing images from different areas and communicating this information to the robot for efficient navigation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If only a built-in camera on the mobile robot is used to capture images, then the device complexity is reduced, but the measurement precision of robot position and obstacle detection deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces external cameras (first camera in elevator hall, second camera in elevator car) as intermediary devices to capture images of the mobile robot and obstacles. These external cameras supplement the built-in camera, providing multiple viewpoints and enabling more precise determination of robot position, shape, and obstacles without significantly increasing system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a single-camera perspective to multi-dimensional observation by deploying cameras in different locations (elevator hall and elevator car). This spatial distribution of cameras creates multiple imaging dimensions, allowing comprehensive detection of robot position and obstacles that cannot be achieved with a single built-in camera.
2Measurement precision
If multiple cameras are deployed to improve detection accuracy, then the measurement precision of obstacles and robot position is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The external cameras serve multiple functions: the first camera captures the mobile robot in the elevator hall, the second camera captures obstacles in the elevator car, and both contribute to route planning. This multi-functionality maximizes the utility of each camera, reducing the need for additional specialized sensors and justifying the increased device complexity.
3Ease of operation
If the mobile robot relies solely on its built-in camera for navigation, then the ease of operation is maintained, but the productivity of the robot deteriorates due to inefficient movement
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback by using external cameras to continuously monitor the mobile robot's position and surrounding obstacles, then feeding this information back to the control device for route recalculation. This feedback mechanism enables the robot to adapt to dynamic environments and avoid obstacles more effectively, improving movement efficiency without complicating operation.
4Device complexity
If the mobile robot does not have accurate information about obstacles outside the elevator, then the device complexity is reduced, but the reliability of safe navigation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by capturing images of obstacles in the elevator car with the second camera before the mobile robot enters. This advance detection allows the control device to pre-calculate a safe route that avoids obstacles, improving navigation reliability before the robot actually encounters potential hazards.
Data Source
AI summary
A robot control system according to an embodiment is a robot control system that controls a mobile robot configured to be able to move autonomously inside a facility. When the mobile robot moves from a first area inside the facility to a second area through a partition configured to be openable and closable, a moving route of the mobile robot is set based on the mobile robot that is determined from an image captured by a first camera that photographs the first area and an obstacle that is determined from an image captured by a second camera that photographs the second area.