Mobile Robot Obstacle Recognition With Filtered Image Upload
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional moving robots face challenges in accurately detecting and navigating around obstacles, particularly due to lighting conditions and the time required to calculate image data, which can result in incomplete cleaning and potential damage to obstacles.
Innovation Solution
A moving robot equipped with a sensor unit, camera, and controller that analyzes image data for brightness and sharpness to filter and transmit only recognizable data to a server for obstacle identification, allowing the robot to adjust its path accordingly based on received obstacle information.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the moving robot changes the path immediately when an obstacle is detected, then the robot can avoid the obstacle, but the corresponding area cannot be cleaned
Solution Approach 1:
The robot performs preliminary actions by approaching the obstacle as much as possible before changing path, or by colliding with the obstacle to ensure the area is cleaned. This preliminary action maximizes cleaning coverage while still achieving obstacle avoidance when necessary.
2Productivity
If the moving robot waits to change path after approaching or colliding with the obstacle, then the corresponding area can be cleaned, but the obstacle may be broken or the robot may waste time
Solution Approach 1:
The robot uses camera feedback to identify obstacle types and receives server responses to determine appropriate actions. This feedback mechanism allows the robot to distinguish between breakable and non-breakable obstacles, enabling it to approach or collide with safe obstacles while avoiding damage to vulnerable ones.
3Measurement precision
If the moving robot transmits all photographed image data to the server, then the server can accurately identify obstacles, but unnecessary data transmission increases communication load
Solution Approach 1:
The robot extracts only the necessary image data (filtered recognizable data) and transmits it to the server, leaving unnecessary data behind. This extraction principle reduces communication load and energy consumption while maintaining sufficient obstacle identification accuracy.
4Speed
If the moving robot calculates image data quickly, then the robot can respond to obstacles faster, but the obstacle may not be accurately identified under poor lighting conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The server acts as an intermediary that performs the computationally intensive image analysis task. The robot captures images and transmits them to the server, which then identifies obstacles and returns results. This intermediary approach allows the robot to maintain fast response speed while achieving accurate obstacle identification even under poor lighting conditions.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a moving robot and a control method thereof, and includes a sensor unit configured to detect an obstacle located in a traveling direction; a camera configured to photograph the obstacle, when the obstacle is detected by the sensor unit; a controller configured to control a certain operation to be performed in accordance with the obstacle. The controller analyzes a plurality of image data of the obstacle inputted from the camera to determine whether the obstacle can be identified and filters the image data, transmits the filtered image data among the plurality of image data to the server through the communication unit, and controls the traveling unit in accordance with obstacle information received from the server. Hence, by transmitting only recognizable image, unnecessary data transmission is reduced, and accordingly, transmission traffic is reduced and the load of image processing of the server is reduced. As the load of the server decreases, the obstacle can be quickly determined, and accordingly, the moving robot can recognize the obstacle in a short time and determine the type of the obstacle to cope with, thereby performing the operation suitable for the feature of the obstacle, the cleaning area, or the surrounding environment.