Autonomous Mobile Robot Light Switching for Space Saving
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Autonomous mobile robots face challenges in accommodating both road surface sensing and current location verification devices due to space constraints and energy efficiency, as they require switching between different light irradiation modes depending on the environment.
Innovation Solution
An autonomous mobile robot equipped with a moving mechanism, self-location recognition unit, map data storage, slit light device, infrared device, switch determination unit, capture unit, road surface sensing unit, and mark sensing unit, which switches between slit light and infrared irradiation based on the robot's location within marked regions to optimize space usage and energy consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If both road surface sensing device and current location verification device are accommodated in the robot, then the robot can perform both functions, but the robot size is enlarged
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the road surface sensing device and current location verification device into a single integrated system. The imaging device captures images that are simultaneously used for both road surface sensing (detecting obstacles, steps, holes) and current location verification (recognizing landmarks). This merging eliminates the need for separate devices, thereby reducing robot size while maintaining both functional capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The imaging device is designed to serve multiple functions: it acts as both a road surface sensing device and a current location verification device. By making the imaging device universal, the patent avoids the need for separate specialized devices, thus reducing the overall robot volume while preserving adaptability and versatility.
2Adaptability or versatility
If both devices are installed in the robot, then the robot can perform multiple functions, but energy consumption increases due to the need to switch between devices
Solution Approach 1:
By merging the road surface sensing and current location verification functions into a single imaging device, the patent eliminates the need to switch between separate devices. The imaging device continuously operates in both modes simultaneously, reducing energy consumption associated with device switching while maintaining full functional capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The universal imaging device performs both road surface sensing and current location verification without requiring switching between different devices. This multi-functionality reduces energy consumption by eliminating the overhead of switching operations while preserving adaptability to different environmental conditions.
3Ease of manufacture
If landmarks are not formed throughout the active area, then the environment remains natural, but current location verification becomes unreliable
Solution Approach 1:
The imaging device serves dual purposes: it verifies current location by recognizing landmarks when present, and simultaneously performs road surface sensing to detect obstacles and terrain features. This self-service approach allows the system to maintain location verification reliability through road surface sensing even when landmarks are absent, while preserving environmental naturalness.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically changes its operational parameters based on environmental conditions. When landmarks are detected, the system uses landmark recognition for location verification. When landmarks are absent, it switches to using road surface sensing data for location estimation, thereby maintaining reliability across varying environmental conditions without requiring artificial landmarks throughout the active area.
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
Enables a space-saving and energy-efficient autonomous mobile robot capable of precise location verification and road surface sensing by selectively using slit light or infrared irradiation based on the robot's location, ensuring effective navigation and obstacle detection.
Implementation Method 1
the device irradiates a road surface in front of the robot with predetermined slit light
Implementation Method 2
an infrared device for irradiating a detection area with infrared rays
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a space-saving autonomous mobile robot capable of switching two types of light irradiation appropriately. The robot includes a moving mechanism, an autonomous movement controller for controlling the moving mechanism, a self-location recognition unit for sensing a self-location of the robot, a map data storage unit for storing a map data on locations of marks, a slit light device for irradiating a detection area with slit light, an infrared device for irradiating a detection area with infrared rays, and a switch determination unit for comparing a mark-formed region and the self-location, and then, for switching between the slit light and infrared devices, based on the comparison result. Moreover, the infrared device irradiates the detection area when the self-location is within the mark-formed region, while the slit light device irradiates the detection area when the self-location is outside the mark-formed region.