Service Robot Spatial Data Reuse for 3D Mapping and Object Catalogs
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Solution Overview
Problem
Service robots traditionally ignore the valuable temporal-spatial information they collect during operations, resulting in its wastage and untapped potential for improving service efficiency and facility management.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that enables service robots to navigate, sense, store, and communicate temporal-spatial information, allowing for secondary services, 3D modeling, object recognition, and improved primary service efficiency, using wireless networks and sensors, and allowing other robots or control systems to access and utilize this information.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If service robots perform primary service functions, then service capability is improved, but temporal-spatial information is wasted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables temporal-spatial information collected during primary service functions to be reused for multiple secondary purposes including facility management, navigation optimization, and environmental monitoring. This multi-functional utilization transforms wasted information into valuable assets that enhance both primary service performance and additional capabilities.
2Loss of information
If service robots collect and store temporal-spatial information, then information utility is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses existing robot sensors and processors to collect temporal-spatial information during normal operations, then repurposes this same information for multiple functions including navigation, facility management, and environmental monitoring. This approach avoids adding dedicated hardware for each function, thereby limiting complexity increase while maximizing information utility.
3Loss of information
If service robots communicate temporal-spatial information via wireless network, then information sharing is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system transmits temporal-spatial information selectively based on utility requirements rather than continuously. Information is communicated via wireless network only when needed for secondary services or facility management applications, reducing unnecessary energy consumption while maintaining effective information sharing when beneficial.
Data Source
AI summary
Robots and methods implemented therein implement an active repurposing of temporal-spatial information. A robot can be configured to analyze the information to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the primary service function that generated the information originally. A robot can be configured to use the information to create a three dimensional (3D) model of the facility, which can be used for a number of functions such as creating virtual tours of the environment, or porting the environment into video games. A robot can be configured to use the information to recognize and classify objects in the facility so that the ensuing catalog can be used to locate selected objects later, or to provide a global catalog of all items, such as is needed for insurance documentation of facility effects.