Mobile Robot Tray Control for Direct Tabletop Article Delivery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing serving robots do not directly deliver articles to users at desired positions without user intervention, as they only move the articles within a container to a corresponding position and do not transfer them to the user.
Innovation Solution
A mobile robot system that includes a tray for accommodating articles, equipped with upward and downward movement motors and horizontal rollers, which analyzes user gestures and table positions using image acquisition and object recognition to accurately deliver articles to the desired height and location on a table.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the serving robot only moves the serving article within the container to a corresponding position, then the device complexity is reduced, but the ease of operation deteriorates because the user still needs to manually take out the article
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an article transfer mechanism as an intermediary component between the container and the user. This mechanism includes a transfer arm with a gripper that automatically grasps the serving article from the container and delivers it to the user's hand or designated location, eliminating the need for manual retrieval while adding automated transfer functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The serving robot is equipped with sensors and control systems that enable it to autonomously detect when the user needs service, calculate the optimal serving position, and automatically transfer the article without requiring user intervention to open containers or retrieve items. The system performs the complete service cycle from article selection to delivery autonomously
2Manufacturing precision
If the serving robot uses simple container movement, then the device complexity is reduced, but the manufacturing precision deteriorates because the article cannot be delivered to the exact desired position
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic article transfer mechanism where the transfer arm can adjust its position, angle, and height in real-time based on user location and article type. The system includes multiple degrees of freedom with adjustable linkages and positioning mechanisms that enable precise delivery to varying destinations while maintaining operational flexibility
Solution Approach 2:
The serving robot incorporates sensors (cameras, distance sensors, position detectors) that continuously monitor the article position, container location, and user presence. This feedback information is processed by a control system that calculates the optimal transfer trajectory and adjusts the mechanism parameters to achieve precise article delivery to the exact desired position
3Adaptability or versatility
If the serving robot does not include vertical movement capability, then the device complexity is reduced, but the adaptability deteriorates because it cannot serve articles at different heights such as tables
Solution Approach 1:
The patent adds vertical movement capability to the serving robot through an elevatable platform or adjustable-height container assembly. This enables the robot to operate at multiple height levels (floor level, table height, counter height) by moving the article container vertically, thereby expanding its service coverage to include tables and elevated surfaces without requiring separate mechanisms for each height
Data Source
AI summary
A method may be provided for controlling a mobile robot. This may include receiving user input including a predetermined service request by the mobile robot, receiving an article to be served, by the mobile robot, searching for a user, analyzing a gesture of the user, and extracting a serving position, by the mobile robot, analyzing an image of the serving position and extracting a distance and height of the serving position, moving the mobile robot to the serving position and lifting the served article to be served, to a height of the serving position, and putting down the article to be served at the serving position by horizontally moving the article to be served to the serving position.