Mobile Robot Map Updating Using User Intent and Environment Sensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing map information systems that guide users using multiple mobile robots struggle to provide safe and comfortable navigation due to temporary obstacles, congestion, and changing environmental conditions, as they fail to update map information in real time effectively.
Innovation Solution
A map information update system that employs multiple mobile robots to acquire user intention and position data, combined with environment information from dedicated robots, which a server uses to update map information in real time, incorporating hazard, congestion, and comfort levels, ensuring safe and comfortable routing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If map information is updated in real time using multiple mobile robots, then the accuracy and safety of route guidance is improved, but the system complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the map information update function into multiple independent mobile robots, each equipped with sensors and processing capabilities. These robots independently collect environmental data and user intention information, then aggregate their findings to update the overall map information, reducing the complexity burden on any single component
Solution Approach 2:
The mobile robots are designed with multi-functionality, serving both as navigation guides for users and as data collection agents for map updates. The same sensors and processors used for robot navigation are also utilized to gather environmental information, eliminating the need for separate dedicated update infrastructure
2Reliability
If multiple mobile robots are deployed to collect user intention and position data, then the route guidance safety and comfort are improved, but the device complexity and operational difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges the guidance function and the data collection function into the same mobile robot units. Each robot that guides users also simultaneously collects user intention data through handle load sensors and position data through its navigation system, eliminating the need for separate dedicated data collection devices
Solution Approach 2:
The mobile robots perform self-data-collection during their normal guidance operations. The robots automatically detect user intentions through handle load changes and record their own position data during navigation, without requiring separate measurement instruments or additional operational steps
3Speed
If real-time map information updates are implemented, then the responsiveness to environmental changes is improved, but the information processing requirements and system resource consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The mobile robots continuously pre-process and filter environmental data during their normal operations, identifying and flagging only significant changes that require immediate map updates. This preliminary filtering reduces the volume of data requiring full processing and transmission, lowering energy consumption while maintaining real-time responsiveness
Data Source
AI summary
A map information update system according to the present disclosure includes multiple mobile robots that each acquire information on an intention of a user to move and information on a mobile robot position, one or multiple environment information acquiring robot(s) that each acquire(s) environment information, and a server that updates map information based on the information on the intention of the user to move, the information on the mobile robot position, and the environment information, and each of the multiple mobile robots includes a main body part, a handle part, a detecting part, a moving device, a guide information producing part, a presenting part, a user move intention estimating part, a mobile robot position estimating part, and a communicating part.