Robot Projector Surface Identification and Human Recognition
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing robots face challenges in identifying and projecting images on suitable surfaces within a physical environment due to obstacles or the surface being small or obstructed, making it difficult for humans to view the projected image effectively.
Innovation Solution
A robot system equipped with a housing, an electronic control unit, a projector, a human recognition module, and a projection surface identification module, which communicates to recognize humans and identify suitable projection surfaces, allowing the robot to project images on these surfaces using machine-readable instructions and algorithms for facial recognition and surface analysis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If image data is projected in the physical environment, then communication effectiveness is improved, but it becomes difficult to identify an appropriate projection surface for easy viewing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary system comprising a camera, processor, and projection surface identifier that mediates between the projector and the environment. The camera captures images of the physical environment, the processor analyzes these images to identify suitable projection surfaces, and this intermediary system guides the projector to the appropriate surface, resolving the difficulty of directly identifying projection surfaces in complex environments
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by capturing images of the environment and identifying suitable projection surfaces before actually projecting the image data. The processor analyzes the captured images to determine appropriate projection surfaces in advance, ensuring that when image projection occurs, the surface is already identified and optimized for viewing accessibility
2Adaptability or versatility
If projection surfaces are small or obstructed, then the robot can operate in various environments, but humans cannot easily view the projected image
Solution Approach 1:
The intermediary system acts as a bridge between the projector and the human viewer. It captures images from the camera, analyzes them to identify projection surfaces that are both suitable for the environment and accessible to humans, and guides the projector accordingly. This mediator ensures that even in constrained environments with small or obstructed surfaces, the selected projection surface optimizes human viewing
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adapts to different environmental conditions by continuously analyzing captured images to identify suitable projection surfaces. Rather than being fixed to specific surface types, the system flexibly selects from available surfaces based on real-time environmental assessment, balancing environmental adaptability with human viewing accessibility
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
Robots including projectors for projecting images on identified projection surfaces are disclosed. A robot includes a housing, an electronic control unit coupled to the housing, a projector coupled to the housing, a human recognition module coupled to the housing, and a projection surface identification module coupled to the housing. The projector, the human recognition module, and the surface identification module are communicatively coupled with the electronic control unit. The electronic control unit includes a non-transitory memory that stores a set of machine readable instructions and a processor for executing the machine readable instructions. When executed by the processor, the machine readable instructions cause the robot to recognize a human using the human recognition module, identify a projection surface using the projection surface recognition module, and project an image on the identified projection surface with the projector.