Robot Display Orientation Along Planned Trajectories
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing robotic assistants lack effective dynamic orientation of moveable components, such as display screens, which limits their ability to safely and efficiently navigate through environments and interact with users, leading to intrusive and less companionable behavior.
Innovation Solution
A system that dynamically orients a moveable component on an autonomous mobile device using a path planning module to determine a planned path, processing target point data to adjust the orientation of the component, ensuring it follows the path while avoiding obstacles and providing visual cues to users, thereby enhancing user interaction and safety.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If the robot moves autonomously through environments, then navigation capability is improved, but user awareness of robot path is reduced leading to safety issues
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses visual cues through lighting changes on the robot's exterior surface to communicate its operational state and intended path to users. The lighting system changes color or intensity to indicate different states such as charging, cleaning, or returning to base, making the robot's intentions visible and improving user awareness without affecting navigation speed.
2Reliability
If the robot provides clear visual cues about its path, then user awareness and safety are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the visual cue system into the existing robot structure by using the exterior surface itself as the display medium. The lighting elements are incorporated into the robot's housing, allowing the same surface to serve both structural and communication functions. This multi-functionality approach provides clear visual feedback while minimizing additional complexity.
3Manufacturing precision
If the moveable component follows the planned path exactly, then navigation precision is improved, but responsiveness to dynamic obstacles is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic target point selection mechanism where the system continuously updates the target point based on the robot's current position, sensor inputs, and environmental conditions. Rather than rigidly following a pre-planned path, the robot dynamically adjusts its immediate target, allowing it to maintain precise navigation while responding flexibly to dynamic obstacles and changing environments.
Data Source
AI summary
A robot has a component that is oriented relative to a chassis of the robot. For example, a display screen is mounted to the robot using a pan and tilt arrangement. During operation, trajectory data indicative of a trajectory is determined that specifies where the robot is intended to travel as it moves through an environment. This trajectory data is used to dynamically orient the component. For example, as the robot moves through the environment, the display screen would be oriented such that it appears to be “facing” a point in space that is associated with a point on the trajectory.