Robot Sensor Self-Calibration at Docking Points
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing robots deteriorate in performance due to mechanical distortion from external impacts, leading to a decrease in service quality without effective calibration mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
A robot system that moves to a predetermined point after a predetermined event, performs calibration on its sensors using images, and stores calibration data for improved sensing data, ensuring high-quality service delivery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the robot operates continuously without calibration, then productivity is maintained, but sensor reliability deteriorates due to mechanical distortion
Solution Approach 1:
The robot performs calibration in advance at predetermined points (charge station, docking station) before sensor performance significantly deteriorates. The system proactively moves to calibration locations based on predetermined events such as completing a predetermined number of tasks or time intervals, rather than waiting for performance degradation to occur.
Solution Approach 2:
The robot performs calibration periodically based on predetermined time intervals or after completing a predetermined number of tasks. The processor identifies when calibration is needed by monitoring operation counts or time elapsed, and automatically navigates to calibration locations to perform sensor calibration at regular intervals.
2Reliability
If the robot performs calibration frequently, then sensor reliability is improved, but loss of time increases due to movement and calibration operations
Solution Approach 1:
The calibration operation is merged with the robot's existing navigation to predetermined locations such as charge stations or docking stations. The robot combines its regular movement to these locations with the calibration operation, so that calibration is performed during routine navigation rather than requiring separate dedicated calibration trips.
Solution Approach 2:
The robot autonomously determines when calibration is needed, navigates to calibration locations, performs calibration using its own sensors and processors, and stores calibration data without human intervention. The system self-manages the entire calibration process including decision-making, navigation, execution, and data storage.
3Reliability
If the robot lacks calibration function, then device complexity is reduced, but sensor reliability deteriorates due to mechanical distortion
Solution Approach 1:
The robot uses its existing plurality of sensors (cameras, depth sensors, LIDAR) for both its primary cleaning/navigation functions and for calibration operations. The same sensors that perform service tasks are repurposed to capture images at predetermined points for calibration, eliminating the need for dedicated calibration hardware.
Solution Approach 2:
The calibration process uses image copying and comparison techniques. The robot captures images at predetermined calibration points, compares these images with reference images or images from other sensors, and uses the differences to determine calibration parameters. This optical copying approach replaces complex mechanical calibration mechanisms.
Data Source
AI summary
A robot is provided. The robot includes a plurality of sensors, a memory, a driving unit, and a processor configured to, based on identifying that a predetermined event occurs, control the driving unit to move the robot to a predetermined point, based on identifying that the robot has moved to the point, obtain a plurality of images through the sensors, identify whether to perform calibration for at least one sensor based on the obtained images, based on identifying to perform the calibration for the sensor, obtain calibration data for calibrating sensing data corresponding to the sensor based on the obtained images and store the obtained calibration data in the memory, based on the sensing data being obtained from the sensor, calibrate the obtained sensing data based on the calibration data stored in the memory, and control the driving unit based on the calibrated sensing data.