Robot Charging Dock Identification Using Radar and Infrared
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing robot recharge methods using radar for identifying charging stations can lead to identification errors, where obstacles similar in shape to charging stations are mistakenly identified, posing safety risks due to the lack of precise matching criteria.
Innovation Solution
A method involving radar scanning to establish polar coordinates, filtering and fitting radar data to determine the position of a target object, verifying with infrared data to confirm the charging station, and controlling the robot to dock safely, ensuring accurate identification and prevention of docking with obstacles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If radar data is analyzed in an overall manner to identify charging stations, then the identification process is simple and fast, but identification accuracy deteriorates leading to errors where obstacles similar in shape are mistaken for charging stations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the charging station identification process into multiple independent stages: radar scanning for initial detection, feature extraction for shape analysis, position calculation for precise localization, and infrared verification for final confirmation. Each stage processes specific aspects of the identification task separately, improving overall accuracy while maintaining efficiency through specialized processing at each step.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary verification mechanism using infrared sensors to confirm the charging station identity after radar detection. This intermediary step acts as a mediator between the initial radar identification and the final docking decision, providing an additional layer of verification that eliminates false positives from obstacles with similar radar signatures.
2Device complexity
If the robot uses only radar for charging station identification, then the system complexity is low, but reliability deteriorates due to identification errors and safety issues
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges radar detection and infrared verification systems into a unified charging station identification process. The radar system provides initial detection and positioning, while the infrared system provides verification, creating a combined multi-sensor approach that enhances reliability without requiring completely separate independent systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where infrared sensor data is used to verify and confirm the charging station identity after initial radar detection. The system continuously monitors and compares data from both sensors, using the infrared verification feedback to confirm whether the detected object is truly a charging station before proceeding with docking, thereby eliminating false identifications.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This method enables the robot to accurately identify and safely dock with the charging station, preventing errors and ensuring safety by using radar and infrared verification to distinguish between charging stations and obstacles.
Implementation Method 1
a radar is configured to scan and detect a charging station to obtain radar data
Implementation Method 2
an infrared transmitter on the charging station and an infrared receiver on the robot; determine that the target object is the charging station upon receiving infrared carrier data from the target object
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure provides a robot recharge docking method. The method includes: obtaining current radar data of a radar of a robot for a scanned obstacle; obtaining a position of a target object by analyzing the current radar data; controlling the robot to move to a predetermined position around the target object; determining whether infrared carrier data is received by the robot recharge docking apparatus from the target object; determining that the target object is a charging station upon receiving the infrared carrier data from the target object; and docking the robot at the target object to charge if the target object is the charging station. In the above-mentioned manner, the present disclosure can prevent the robot from taking an obstacle similar to a charging station in shape as the charging station to dock at, thereby ensuring the safety of the automatic recharging of the robot.