Robot Vacuum 3D Marker Navigation for Precise Docking
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing robotic vacuum cleaners face challenges in navigating complex environments and accurately positioning themselves, especially in spaces with limited natural landmarks, requiring expensive sensors and complex camera setups, and struggle to efficiently find charging stations.
Innovation Solution
A robotic cleaning device equipped with a 3D sensor system, including a camera and vertical line lasers, that records images of its vicinity to extract features, compare them with stored data, and adjust its operation based on recognized markers, allowing for efficient navigation and charging station recognition using modular, artificial 3D markers that can be easily installed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional sensors (ultrasound, light waves, laser beams) and additional sensors (stair sensors, wall-tracking sensors, transponders) are used for navigation and positioning, then navigation capability is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the navigation and positioning function from complex multi-sensor systems and implements it using a simplified camera-based feature recognition system. The robot captures images of the environment, extracts features like corners and edges, and uses these for navigation, eliminating the need for ultrasound sensors, light waves, laser beams, and additional specialized sensors.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a camera to capture optical copies (images) of the environment's natural features and uses these copies for navigation and positioning. Instead of using physical sensors to detect the environment, the system creates and processes visual representations of corners, edges, and other geometric features to guide the robot.
2Device complexity
If natural landmarks or markers are used for navigation, then device complexity is reduced, but reliability deteriorates in sterile or repetitive environments with insufficient landmarks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameters of the environment by introducing artificial markers with specific geometric features (corners, edges, lines) that have distinct visual characteristics. These markers provide reliable navigation cues in environments where natural landmarks are insufficient, while maintaining a simple camera-based detection system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces artificial markers as intermediaries between the robot's camera system and the environment. These markers serve as reliable reference points that the camera can consistently detect and use for navigation, bridging the gap between the robot's sensing capabilities and the environment's natural features.
3Measurement precision
If markers are placed on the ceiling for navigation, then navigation accuracy is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to installation difficulty
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the traditional approach of placing markers on the ceiling by placing markers on the floor instead. This allows the robot to detect markers while moving forward on the ground, eliminating the need for ceiling-mounted installation and making the system easier to deploy while maintaining positioning accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from vertical ceiling-mounted markers to horizontal floor-mounted markers, changing the spatial dimension of marker placement. This dimensional change allows the robot to interact with markers at its natural operating level, improving ease of installation and operation while maintaining navigation functionality.
4Measurement precision
If multiple cameras are used for ceiling mark recognition and horizontal movement, then navigation capability is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the single camera universal by enabling it to perform both ceiling mark recognition and horizontal movement detection functions. Through image processing and feature extraction, the same camera system handles multiple navigation tasks, eliminating the need for separate cameras for different functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the functions of ceiling mark recognition and horizontal movement detection into a single camera system. By combining these functions and processing the captured images to extract relevant features for both purposes, the system reduces the number of cameras needed while maintaining comprehensive navigation capability.
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
Enhances navigation and positioning accuracy, reduces the need for expensive sensors, and enables efficient electric recharging by allowing the device to autonomously find and recognize charging stations, while also providing customizable cleaning operations and improved user control.
Implementation Method 1
a 3D sensor system, including a camera and vertical line lasers, that records images of its vicinity
Implementation Method 2
vertical line lasers, that records images of its vicinity
Data Source
AI summary
A robotic cleaning device having a body, and an obstacle detecting device configured to obtain data from a vicinity of the robotic cleaning device. The robotic cleaning device further has a propulsion system configured to drive the robotic cleaning device across a surface to be cleaned, and a cleaning member. The device also has a processing unit arranged to extract at least one feature from data obtained by the obstacle detecting device, compare the attained feature with stored features and when the attained feature matches one of the stored features, deduce a position of the robotic cleaning device.