Robot Vision Navigation for Precise Charging Dock Alignment
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Domestic robotic systems, such as vacuum cleaners and lawnmowers, face challenges in accurately determining their position and orientation to navigate effectively within their working areas and return to charging stations, as existing methods like triangulation and GPS may not provide sufficient precision for mechanical docking setups.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of an image-based navigation system using a processor and camera to detect predetermined patterns associated with markers, allowing the robot to estimate its position and orientation relative to these markers, and perform calibration of alternative navigation systems for improved accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional navigation methods like triangulation, GPS, or inertial measurement units are used to determine robot position and orientation, then the robot can navigate within the working area, but the positioning precision is insufficient for accurate mechanical docking with charging stations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces visual markers as intermediary objects placed in the environment. These markers serve as mediators between the robot's navigation system and the charging station, providing easily detectable visual references that enable precise position and orientation determination without requiring complex mechanical docking setups or high-precision traditional navigation systems
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces mechanical positioning systems (which would require precise mechanical guidance structures) with an optical vision-based system. The robot uses image processing to detect marker patterns and calculate its position and orientation, substituting mechanical complexity with optical detection and computational geometry
2Manufacturing precision
If mechanical guidance setups are used to achieve accurate positioning for charging, then docking precision is improved, but the system complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical guidance structures with simple visual markers that can be easily manufactured and attached to the charging station. The robot's vision system processes these markers to achieve precise docking, eliminating the need for complex mechanical alignment systems
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses visual markers as simplified copies or representations of the charging station's position and orientation. Instead of complex mechanical interfaces, the markers provide visual information that the robot's vision system processes to determine docking parameters, making the system easier to manufacture while maintaining precision
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
This approach enables precise navigation and docking of robots by accurately determining their position and orientation relative to markers, enhancing their ability to cover working areas and return to charging stations with high accuracy, even in environments where traditional methods fail.
Implementation Method 1
the image obtaining device being configured to distinguish between light of different polarizations
Data Source
AI summary
A domestic robotic system includes a moveable robot having an image obtaining device for obtaining images of the exterior environment of the robot, and a processor programmed to detect a predetermined pattern within the obtained images. The processor and image obtaining device form at least part of a first navigation system for the robot which can determine a first estimate of at least one of the position and orientation of the robot. A second navigation system for the robot determines an alternative estimate of the at least one of the position and orientation of the robot. Calibration of the second navigation system can be performed using the first navigation system.