Mobile Robot Ground Projection for Adaptive Safety Zone Marking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing mobile robots lack effective means to project visual information for safety areas, failing to adequately prevent collisions and ensure travel safety due to limited functionality in reflecting various states and surrounding situations, especially in cases of unpredictable obstacles or unstable communication.
Innovation Solution
A mobile robot equipped with a projector on one side that projects visual information to mark safety areas, controlled by a sensing unit and control unit to adapt the projection based on travel state and surrounding conditions, including changes in speed, direction, obstacles, and connected loads, ensuring real-time adjustment of visual cues.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a projector is mounted on the mobile robot to provide image display, then visual information can be projected, but the robot lacks the capability to dynamically mark safety areas and ensure travel safety
Solution Approach 1:
The projector's projection characteristics (position, size, shape, color) are dynamically adjusted based on the robot's travel state, surrounding situations, and obstacle conditions. The control unit continuously modifies the projected safety area markings to reflect real-time operational parameters, transforming a static projection device into a dynamic safety communication system.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes multiple parameters of the projected visual information including position, size, shape, and color based on travel state parameters (speed, direction, operational mode). For example, the size of the projected safety area increases with travel speed, and the color changes to indicate different risk levels, enabling the projector to convey complex safety information through parameter variation.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the projector projects fixed visual information, then the projection system is simple, but it cannot reflect various states and surrounding situations of the mobile robot
Solution Approach 1:
The projector serves multiple functions beyond simple image display: it marks safety areas, indicates operational states, warns of obstacles, communicates travel direction and speed information, and provides navigation guidance. This multi-functionality is achieved by programmatically controlling the projection parameters based on robot state inputs from various sensors and control units.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit receives feedback about the robot's travel state (speed, direction, operational mode) and surrounding conditions from sensing units, processes this information, and adjusts the projection characteristics accordingly. This closed-loop feedback system enables the projector to adaptively reflect real-time robot states and environmental conditions.
3Reliability
If visual information is projected only for entertainment purposes, then the projector usage is limited, but safety functions are not provided
Solution Approach 1:
The projector automatically adjusts its output based on robot operational parameters without requiring manual intervention. The control unit autonomously determines the appropriate projection characteristics based on travel state and surrounding conditions, enabling the safety marking function to operate independently and continuously adapt to changing conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system projects safety area markings in advance of the robot's physical presence, warning potential obstacles before the robot reaches their location. This preliminary visual indication allows pedestrians and other robots to anticipate the robot's path and adjust their behavior accordingly, preventing collisions before they occur.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3A~3B
Figure 3C~4(c)
AI summary
Proposed are a mobile robot (100) and an operational method of the mobile robot(100). The mobile robot (100) includes a projector (160) provided on one side of the mobile robot (100) in such a manner as to project visual information, and a control unit (180) configured to control the projector (160) in such a manner as to externally project the visual information. In the mobile robot(100), the control unit (180) controls the projector in such a manner that first visual information for marking a safety area is projected onto the ground in the vicinity of the mobile robot (100) while the mobile robot (100) travels, determines, based on at least one change in a travel state or a surrounding situation of the mobile robot (100), that the safety area is changed, and then controls the projector (160) in such a manner that at least one of the following: a size, a shape, or a color of the first visual information is changed and that the resulting first visual information is projected.