Autonomous Robot Floor-Type Sensing for Real-Time Elevation Adaptation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional robotic devices struggle to adapt and respond effectively to unpredictable environmental conditions and variable operational demands, leading to reduced performance and interrupted operations.
Innovation Solution
A robotic device equipped with sensors, processors, and machine-readable media that measure distances, capture images, detect floor types, and adjust elevation to dynamically respond to perceived stimuli based on probabilistic predictions, enabling adaptability and efficiency across different terrains.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional robotic devices operate with fixed programming and structure, then device complexity is reduced and ease of manufacture is improved, but adaptability to unpredictable environmental conditions deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The robotic device employs polymorphic actuation systems that enable real-time changes in body shape, wheel configuration, and limb deployment. The device transitions between different morphological states (bipedal, quadrupedal, wheeled modes) based on environmental conditions, allowing adaptation without requiring multiple specialized devices. This dynamic reconfiguration resolves the contradiction by making the device adaptable while maintaining a single unified structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The device utilizes probabilistic prediction algorithms that continuously adjust operational parameters based on sensor data and environmental assessment. The system modifies movement patterns, cleaning operations, and navigation strategies in real-time based on predicted outcomes, enabling adaptation through software-based parameter changes rather than hardware complexity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If conventional robotic devices use simple control systems, then ease of operation is improved and device complexity is reduced, but ability to respond to unpredictable stimuli deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The robotic device implements closed-loop control systems with multiple sensors (cameras, LIDAR, touch sensors, inertial measurement units) that continuously monitor environmental conditions and device state. Probabilistic prediction algorithms process this feedback in real-time to anticipate environmental changes and adjust behavior proactively, enabling responsive adaptation without requiring overly complex control architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses probabilistic prediction to perform preliminary actions based on anticipated environmental conditions. By predicting future states and preparing appropriate responses in advance, the device can adapt to unpredictable stimuli more effectively without requiring complex real-time decision-making systems.
3Adaptability or versatility
If conventional robotic devices maintain fixed morphology, then manufacturing precision is improved and ease of manufacture is enhanced, but adaptability to different terrains deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The robotic device is constructed from modular segments including interchangeable wheels, deployable limbs, and reconfigurable body sections. Each module is designed with standardized interfaces for easy assembly and manufacturing. The segmentation allows the device to reconfigure its morphology for different terrains while maintaining manufacturing simplicity through standardized components and assembly procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The device employs universal, multi-functional components that can serve multiple purposes across different operational modes. The same actuators and structural elements are used whether the device is in wheeled, bipedal, or quadrupedal mode, simplifying manufacturing by eliminating the need for terrain-specific specialized parts while maintaining adaptability across different surfaces.
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
Enhances the robotic device's ability to navigate and clean various floor surfaces by accurately mapping environments, detecting obstacles, and adjusting to elevation changes, thereby improving performance and operational efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
measuring distances, with a Light Detector and Ranger (LIDAR) sensor of the robotic device
Implementation Method 2
capturing, with an image sensor of the robotic device, images of the environment
Data Source
AI summary
Some aspects include a method for operating an autonomous robot, including: capturing, with a first sensor disposed on the robot, data of an environment of the robot; generating, with the processor, a map of the environment based on at least the data of the environment; localizing, with the processor, the robot within the environment; capturing, with a second sensor disposed on the robot, data of a floor surface; determining, with the processor, a floor type of areas of the environment based on the data of the floor surface; and determining, with the processor, settings of the robot based on at least the floor type of the floor surface, wherein the settings comprise at least an elevation of each of at least one component of the robot from the floor surface.