Robot Docking Signal Timing for Multi-Station Interference Avoidance
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Solution Overview
Problem
In environments with multiple robots and docking stations, interference between wireless docking guidance signals prevents accurate docking, as robots struggle to distinguish their own docking signals from those of other stations, leading to failed charging attempts.
Innovation Solution
A robot system that determines the output time of its docking guidance request signal to avoid overlapping with other stations' signals, using a processor to identify and synchronize with its own docking station's signal, ensuring accurate docking by employing infrared signals with identification information for recognition.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple robots and docking stations use wireless signals for docking guidance in the same space, then docking functionality is provided for each robot, but signal interference occurs between docking guidance signals
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the docking guidance signal into two separate parts: a request signal transmitted by the robot and a guidance signal transmitted by the docking station. This segmentation allows the robot to first request docking, then receive guidance only from its own station after the request is processed, preventing interference from other stations' guidance signals.
Solution Approach 2:
The robot transmits a docking request signal before receiving the docking guidance signal. This preliminary action ensures that the docking station activates its guidance signal only after confirming the robot's docking intent, preventing the robot from receiving or being affected by guidance signals from other stations.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple docking stations transmit docking guidance signals simultaneously, then each station can guide its corresponding robot, but robots cannot accurately distinguish their own docking signals from other stations' signals
Solution Approach 1:
The docking process uses feedback mechanism where the robot first sends a request signal, then the specific docking station responds with a guidance signal. This feedback loop ensures that the robot receives guidance only from the station that acknowledged its request, enabling accurate signal identification even in multi-station environments.
Solution Approach 2:
The docking request signal is transmitted before the guidance signal, serving as a preliminary action that activates the specific docking station's response. This sequence ensures that only the intended station transmits its guidance signal, allowing the robot to accurately identify and follow the correct signal.
3Productivity
If robots transmit docking guidance request signals without timing control, then docking requests are sent promptly, but signals overlap with other stations' guidance signals
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic timing control where the robot transmits the docking request signal, waits for a predetermined period to receive the guidance signal, and only then proceeds. This periodic action structure prevents signal overlap by ensuring the request signal is transmitted at appropriate intervals and the robot waits for the response before acting.
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
The system effectively prevents signal interference, allowing robots to accurately dock at their designated stations, ensuring reliable charging and operation in multi-robot, multi-station environments.
Implementation Method 1
The first docking guidance signal comprises an infrared signal
Data Source
AI summary
A robot includes; a driving module, a communication module, and at least one processor configured to receive, a second docking guidance signal output from a second docking station; determine a first output time of the received second docking guidance signal, determine a second output time of a first docking guidance request signal to be transmitted based on the determined first output time to prevent the first docking guidance request signal from overlapping with the second docking guidance signal, and output the first docking guidance request signal, through the communication module, based on the determined second output time of the first docking guidance request signal, and in response to the outputting of the first docking guidance request signal, receive, a first docking guidance signal, docking the robot to the first docking station by driving the driving module in response to receiving the first docking guidance signal.