Mobile Robot Localization Using Projected Pixel Coordinates

The patent introduces sensor nodes as intermediary elements deployed in the environment to detect robot position. These nodes receive light signals from the projector, determine which projector pixels are active, and communicate this information to the robot. This intermediary system enables accurate localization without requiring complex onboard sensors on the robot itself, thus improving measurement precision while keeping the robot relatively simple.

The patent replaces traditional mechanical or complex electronic localization systems with an optical-based approach. A projector emits light signals that encode position information, and sensor nodes detect these optical signals to determine robot location. This substitution of mechanical/electronic systems with optical fields enables simpler hardware while achieving high measurement precision through the encoded light patterns.

The patent pre-encodes position information into the light signal pattern before transmission. Each projector pixel corresponds to a specific location, and the activation pattern of pixels directly encodes spatial information. This preliminary encoding of position data in the optical domain eliminates the need for complex computational algorithms during runtime, as the robot can determine its location by simply detecting which pixels are active, thus achieving high resolution without proportional increases in computational complexity.

The patent creates a simplified copy of the environment's spatial structure through the projector's pixel activation pattern. Rather than computing complex 3D spatial relationships, the system projects a 2D pattern of active pixels that directly corresponds to the robot's position. This copying approach transforms complex spatial computation into a simple pattern-matching task, maintaining high location resolution while minimizing computational requirements.

The patent creates a universal localization system where sensor nodes can be deployed in various environments without customization. The same projector-sensor node-robot architecture works across different settings, whether indoor corridors, open spaces, or structured environments. The system adapts to different environments through the deployment density and arrangement of sensor nodes rather than requiring environment-specific configuration, thus maintaining both accuracy and adaptability.

The patent divides the environment into discrete zones covered by individual sensor nodes, each independently detecting projector pixel patterns. This segmentation allows the system to scale to different environment sizes and configurations without requiring overall system redesign. Each sensor node operates independently and contributes to the global localization accuracy, enabling the system to adapt to various environments by simply adding or removing nodes rather than customizing the entire system.