Mobile Robot Space Mapping Without Personal Data Exposure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing mobile robot technologies fail to effectively process and remove personal information from captured images, leading to potential exposure and security concerns when generating space maps.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for a mobile robot that includes processors and memory to receive and process image frames, discriminate frames with personal information, and replace them with alternative frames matching the surrounding environment, preventing exposure and enhancing security by generating maps without personal data.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If image frames captured by mobile robot are stored and used for map generation, then spatial map accuracy is improved, but personal information exposure risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes personal information (faces, license plates, etc.) from captured image frames before storing them in the spatial map. The processor identifies regions containing personal information and replaces them with processed versions that preserve spatial structure but remove identifiable personal data, thus maintaining map accuracy while preventing exposure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary processing step between image capture and map generation. A processor acts as a mediator that transforms original image frames into processed frames by removing or obscuring personal information while preserving the underlying spatial geometry and environmental features needed for navigation.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If personal information is processed and replaced in image frames, then personal information exposure is prevented, but processing time and computational resources increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary processing of image frames during the map generation phase rather than in real-time during navigation. By preprocessing images before they are stored in the spatial map, the system eliminates the need for continuous real-time processing during robot operation, reducing computational burden and time loss during critical navigation tasks.
3Reliability
If all captured images are processed to remove personal information, then security is improved, but data utility for recognition and analysis is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality processing by selectively removing only the specific regions containing personal information (faces, license plates) while preserving the rest of the image data. This localized approach maintains the utility of environmental features, objects, and spatial relationships for navigation and recognition tasks while eliminating security risks associated with personal data.
Data Source
AI summary
An image of a space in which a mobile robot travels may be captured, and, in the case in which personal information is included in the captured image, the image including the personal information may be covered with a specific color such that the personal information is not visible, and the image may be replaced with an image including no personal information. As a result, it is possible to prevent the personal information from being exposed. In order to determine whether personal information is included in an image and to replace the image including the personal information with an image including no personal information, an object detection neural network and a frame prediction neural network may be used. In addition, input and output of an image may be performed in an Internet of Things (IoT) environment using a 5G network.