Mobile Robot Hazard Detection With Autonomous Path Response
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Solution Overview
Problem
Retail environments face significant costs due to pedestrian injuries from walking hazards and the implementation of autonomous mobile robots for safety and other purposes, with these costs often being disassociated and exorbitant.
Innovation Solution
An autonomous mobile robot equipped with sensors and a processing system that detects hazardous conditions and takes actions to address them, such as alerting personnel or changing navigation paths, to prevent pedestrian injuries.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If autonomous mobile robots are deployed for safety and operational purposes in retail environments, then operational efficiency and shopping experience are improved, but the cost of the robot system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The mobile robot is designed to perform multiple functions: hazard detection using sensors, navigation along predefined paths, real-time communication with personnel devices, and delivering messages or alerts. This multi-functionality consolidates what would otherwise require separate safety systems and operational robots into a single integrated platform, improving productivity while controlling costs through resource sharing
Solution Approach 2:
The robot autonomously navigates along predefined paths, automatically detects hazards using its sensor array, and independently communicates findings to personnel. The system self-manages its operation without requiring constant human intervention or control, reducing operational costs and improving efficiency while maintaining a manageable device complexity
2Reliability
If separate systems are implemented for hazard detection and robot operations, then each function can be optimized independently, but the total cost becomes exorbitant
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges hazard detection capabilities, navigation functions, and communication systems into a single mobile robot platform. The sensor array detects hazards, the processing system analyzes data and determines navigation paths, and the communication system alerts personnel - all integrated in one system rather than separate deployments, reducing total cost while maintaining reliability through coordinated function execution
Solution Approach 2:
The mobile robot serves as a universal platform that simultaneously performs hazard detection, navigation, and personnel communication functions. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate optimized systems for each function, reducing the exorbitant total cost while maintaining the reliability benefits of specialized functions through integrated design
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus, system and method capable of providing an autonomous mobile robot hazard detection and control system. The apparatus, system and method may include: a robot having a robot body; a plurality of sensors physically associated with the robot body, and capable of detecting a hazardous condition in an operational environment; and at least one processing system at least partially physically associated with the robot body and communicatively connected to the plurality of sensors. The at least one processing system may include non-transitory computing code which, when executed by a processor of the at least one processing system, causes to occur the steps of: mapping a navigation path for the robot to traverse; detecting the hazardous condition along the navigation path based on output from the plurality of sensors; and instructing at least one action by the robot other than following the navigation path, wherein the at least one action at least partially addresses the hazardous condition.