Robot Localization Offloading for Accurate Candidate Positioning

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional robot apparatuses require significant computational resources to calculate valid candidate locations for simultaneous localization and map-building, leading to inefficient processing and potential network instability.

Innovation Solution

The method involves offloading the calculation of valid candidate locations to an external server only when necessary, allowing the robot apparatus to reduce its computational load and manage network traffic effectively.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If the robot apparatus calculates valid candidate locations using periphery information locally, then the location accuracy is improved, but the computational load increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelocation accuracyVSAvoidcomputational load
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an external server as an intermediary to perform the computationally intensive calculation of valid candidate locations. The robot apparatus sends first candidate locations and periphery information to the server, which then calculates and returns the valid candidate locations. This mediator approach allows the robot to achieve high location accuracy without bearing the full computational burden locally.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts the complex calculation function from the robot apparatus and relocates it to an external server. By separating the calculation function from the robot system, the patent reduces the robot's computational load while maintaining the ability to generate accurate valid candidate locations through the external server's processing power.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Device complexity

If the robot apparatus sends calculation requests to an external server, then the computational burden is reduced, but network stability may deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecomputational loadVSAvoidnetwork stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements partial action by having the robot apparatus calculate valid candidate locations itself only when necessary (when the proportion of valid locations is below a threshold), rather than always relying on the external server. This conditional approach balances network usage with computational autonomy, reducing network dependency while maintaining location accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Solution Approach 2:

The system incorporates feedback mechanisms where the robot apparatus monitors the proportion of valid candidate locations and adjusts its behavior accordingly. When the proportion falls below a preset threshold, it requests calculations from the server; when above the threshold, it performs calculations locally. This feedback loop optimizes the balance between network usage and local processing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP3453494B1Electronic device, external server, and method for controlling same
Publication Date: 2022.10.05 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD
  • EP3453494B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3453494B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3453494B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Disclosed is an electronic device. An electronic device according to one embodiment may comprise: a communication module; a sensor module which acquires movement information of the electronic device and image information of the place where the electronic device is moving; a memory which stores space information corresponding to the place where the electronic device is moving; and a processor which uses the movement information and space information to determine a plurality of first candidate locations, within the place, corresponding to the electronic device, and then, on the basis of the image information and the plurality of first candidate locations, determines whether the location accuracy corresponding to the plurality of first candidate locations is smaller than a valid value, and, on the basis of the result of the determination, uses the electronic device or an external server to acquire at least one second candidate location from among the plurality of first candidate locations, and uses the acquired at least one second candidate location to determine an estimated location for the electronic device.