Autonomous Robot Teleoperation for Stuck-State Recovery

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Solution Overview

Problem

Autonomous robots face challenges in completing tasks when they encounter situations where they lack a strategy or become stuck, requiring human intervention but often leading to inefficiencies and delays in operation.

Innovation Solution

An autonomous robot system that enables on-demand teleoperation, allowing robots to operate autonomously while prompting human intervention when needed, using a combination of sensors and communication networks to facilitate seamless transition between autonomous and teleoperated modes, and pre-emptively requesting assistance to avoid bottlenecks.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If autonomous robots operate fully autonomously without human intervention, then operational efficiency and productivity are improved, but the robot becomes unable to handle situations where it lacks a strategy or becomes stuck

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperational efficiencyVSAvoidability to handle unfamiliar situations

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically transitions between autonomous and teleoperated modes based on the robot's ability to handle the current situation. When the robot has a strategy, it operates autonomously; when it becomes stuck, it switches to teleoperation mode, allowing adaptive response to varying operational conditions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

A teleoperation system acts as an intermediary between the autonomous robot and human operators. The robot can request human assistance when stuck, and the teleoperation system provides a seamless transition to manual control, enabling the robot to overcome limitations of pure autonomy

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If the robot switches to teleoperation mode when stuck, then the robot can handle unfamiliar situations with human assistance, but operational delays and downtime increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to handle unfamiliar situationsVSAvoidoperational delays

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by maintaining teleoperation capabilities ready for immediate activation. The robot monitors its own operational state and can preemptively switch to teleoperation mode before complete failure occurs, reducing downtime by avoiding prolonged stuck states

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The robot continuously monitors its operational status and provides feedback about when it becomes stuck. This feedback mechanism enables timely switching to teleoperation mode, minimizing the time lost in unrecognized failed states and optimizing the transition timing

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Extent of automation

If the teleoperation system waits for the robot to request assistance, then autonomous operation is maintained as long as possible, but the robot may remain stuck longer than necessary

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveautonomous operation durationVSAvoidtime spent stuck

Core Design Contradiction:

Extent of automationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The robot performs preliminary self-diagnosis and strategy search before requesting human assistance. It monitors its own operational state and only switches to teleoperation when genuinely stuck, avoiding premature human intervention while ensuring timely assistance when needed

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS11675350B2Autonomous robot with on demand teleoperation

Publication Date: 2023.06.13 DEXTERITY INC

AI summary

An autonomous robot with on demand human intervention is disclosed. In various embodiments, a robot operates in an autonomous mode of operation in which the robot performs one or more tasks autonomously without human intervention. The robot determines that a strategy is not available to perform a next task autonomously. In response to the determination, the robot enters a human intervention mode of operation.