Mobile Robot Surface Detection Under Strong Light and Black Surfaces
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional mobile robot ground and wall detection systems fail to function accurately in environments with strong light or black light-absorbing surfaces, leading to erroneous determinations and inappropriate actions.
Innovation Solution
A mobile robot equipped with a light emitter, photoelectric sensor, and adjustable impedance unit, controlled by a controller that adjusts impedance settings and sampling values to differentiate between ON and OFF states, preventing erroneous actions by comparing sampling differences with preset data.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the infrared emitting tube is turned on for a period of time to collect a signal, then the ground detection system can detect the ground surface, but in environments with strong light, the infrared reception tube receives high intensity infrared rays from ambient light and becomes saturated, causing erroneous determination
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies periodic action by using pulse-width modulation (PWM) to periodically switch the infrared emitting tube between ON and OFF states. The detection system collects signals during both states and compares them to identify cliff edges. This periodic switching allows the system to differentiate between reflected infrared rays from the ground and ambient light interference, solving the saturation problem in strong light environments.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback by comparing the signal strength during the infrared emitting tube ON state with the signal strength during the OFF state. The controller analyzes the difference between these two states to determine whether a cliff edge is detected, providing feedback that compensates for ambient light interference and maintains reliable detection accuracy.
2Reliability
If the infrared emitting tube is turned on for a period of time to collect a signal, then the wall detection system can detect the wall surface, but in environments where the wall is covered with black light-absorbing material, most infrared rays are absorbed and the signal strength change is insufficient, causing erroneous determination
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies periodic action by using PWM to periodically switch the infrared emitting tube between ON and OFF states during wall detection. By comparing the signal strength during the ON state with the signal strength during the OFF state, the system can detect even small changes in reflected infrared rays, enabling reliable detection of walls covered with black light-absorbing materials.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback by continuously comparing the signal strength during infrared emission with the signal strength during non-emission. This comparison provides a reference that enhances the system's ability to detect subtle signal changes, improving measurement precision for walls with light-absorbing surfaces.
3Device complexity
If the infrared reception tube sensitivity is fixed after the mobile robot is finalized, then the device structure is simple, but the detection system cannot work normally in three special environments (strong light, normal brightness, black light-absorbing material)
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the infrared emitting tube's emission state adjustable between ON and OFF through PWM control, rather than maintaining a fixed emission state. This dynamic switching capability allows the detection system to adapt to different environmental conditions (strong light, normal brightness, black light-absorbing materials) while maintaining a relatively simple device structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements parameter changes by varying the emission duration and intensity of the infrared emitting tube through PWM control. By changing these parameters dynamically, the system achieves environmental adaptability across three special conditions without requiring multiple fixed-sensitivity receivers or complex hardware modifications.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables the mobile robot to accurately detect surfaces in challenging environments, preventing unexpected actions and ensuring proper operation in conditions with strong light or black light-absorbing materials.
Implementation Method 1
a light emitter supported by the body and configured to emit light toward a detection surface; a photoelectric sensor supported by the body and configured to be responsive to light from environment and/or the light emitted by the light emitter
Data Source
AI summary
A mobile robot, including: a body, a drive system for driving the movement of the mobile robot, a light emitter for emitting light towards a detection face, a photoelectric sensor for responding to light coming from an environment and/or light emitted by the light emitter, an adjustable impedance unit connected to the photoelectric sensor, and a controller. The controller adjusts the adjustable impedance unit to form at least two types of gear values with different impedances and responds to, under the condition of each type of gear values, a sampling difference value determined when the light emitter is in a turn-on and a turn-OFF state, so as to prevent the generation of a misjudgment from causing the mobile robot to carry out an accidental action, such that the mobile robot can work in a special working environment with strong light exposure and a black light-absorption detection face.