Autonomous Robot Protocol Switching Across Marker and Free Routes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing autonomous mobile robot (AMR) technologies are insufficient for safely integrating robots into fast-changing environments like warehouses and manufacturing facilities, as they require rigid traversal protocols that limit robots' ability to adapt to different environments, leading to inefficiencies when transferring payloads across environment boundaries.
Innovation Solution
The system enables robots to toggle between different traversal protocols based on triggering conditions, allowing them to switch from marker-defined routes to autonomous path determination, thereby adapting to various environments and optimizing route efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a robot uses a predefined marker-based traversal protocol, then safety is improved by confining robots to predefined routes, but adaptability deteriorates as robots cannot traverse different environments where different protocols are best suited
Solution Approach 1:
The robot dynamically switches between marker-based traversal protocol and autonomous navigation protocol based on environmental conditions. The system transitions from a static, predefined route approach to a dynamic, adaptive approach that selects the appropriate protocol in real-time, resolving the contradiction between safety (marker-based) and adaptability (autonomous)
Solution Approach 2:
The robot changes its operational parameters by switching traversal protocols based on detected environmental features. When markers are detected, the robot uses marker-based traversal; when markers are absent or environments change, it switches to autonomous navigation, thereby adapting parameters to match environmental conditions while maintaining safety
2Device complexity
If a robot is configured in one traversal protocol, then device complexity is reduced by using a single protocol, but productivity deteriorates due to inefficiencies where payloads must be transferred from robots at environment boundaries
Solution Approach 1:
The robot employs dynamic protocol selection to switch between marker-based and autonomous navigation modes, eliminating the need for payload transfers at environment boundaries. This dynamic adaptation maintains operational continuity and improves productivity without significantly increasing device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The robot becomes multi-functional by incorporating both marker-based traversal and autonomous navigation capabilities in a single system. This universal approach allows the robot to operate efficiently across diverse environments without requiring separate specialized robots or payload transfer operations
Data Source
AI summary
A system and a method are disclosed where a robot operating using a first traversal protocol traverses autonomously along a first route that is defined by markers that are detectable by the robot, wherein the robot is configured to move only based on a presence and type of each marker when the robot is configured to operate based on the first traversal protocol. The robot detects, while traversing along the route, a triggering condition corresponding to a change in operation by the robot from the first traversal protocol to a second traversal protocol. Responsive to detecting the triggering condition, the robot is configured to operate in the second traversal protocol, wherein the robot, when configured to operate based on the second traversal protocol, determines a second route autonomously without regard to a presence of any of the markers.