Mobile Robot Wake-Up Communication for Low-Power Peripherals
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Autonomous robot systems face challenges in power management and communication efficiency, particularly in battery-powered robots that require continuous human guidance and lack effective power-saving mechanisms and robust wireless communication protocols for operation in unstructured environments.
Innovation Solution
A power-saving robot system with a mobile robot and peripheral device that utilize wireless communication components to activate each other from a hibernation mode, allowing for efficient power management and communication over various wavelengths, including line-of-sight and non-line-of-sight configurations, with a network data bridge for internet protocol compliance and customizable audio content for user interaction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the peripheral device operates in active mode continuously, then communication responsiveness is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The peripheral device alternates between active mode and hibernation mode in periodic cycles. During active mode, the device is fully operative and can communicate immediately. During hibernation mode, the device enters a low-power state with limited functionality. This periodic switching resolves the contradiction by providing responsive communication only when needed while conserving power during idle periods.
Solution Approach 2:
The peripheral device dynamically changes its operational state based on communication needs. The device transitions from a static continuous-active state to a dynamic state where it can switch between active and hibernation modes. This dynamic behavior allows the device to adapt its power consumption level to the actual communication requirements, resolving the contradiction between responsiveness and power usage.
2Use of energy by moving object
If the peripheral device remains in hibernation mode, then power consumption is reduced, but communication responsiveness deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The robot performs preliminary actions by periodically pinging or polling the peripheral device even when it is in hibernation mode. This preliminary detection allows the system to anticipate communication needs and activate the peripheral device before actual communication is required, thereby maintaining responsiveness while spending most time in power-saving mode.
Solution Approach 2:
The peripheral device in hibernation mode occasionally performs self-checks by listening for robot pings or polling for quiet robots. This self-service mechanism allows the device to maintain situational awareness and activate itself when needed without requiring continuous power consumption, resolving the contradiction between power saving and communication readiness.
3Area of stationary object
If wireless communication uses non-line-of-sight wavelengths, then communication coverage is improved, but transmission reliability worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses line-of-sight wireless communication as an intermediary mechanism to establish initial contact and verify device presence. When line-of-sight communication succeeds, it serves as a reliable confirmation before attempting non-line-of-sight communication, thereby maintaining transmission reliability while enabling extended coverage through the non-line-of-sight 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
The system enhances the operational efficiency of autonomous robots by extending battery life through power-saving modes and enabling robust wireless communication, while allowing for customizable user interactions and data monitoring, improving overall performance and user experience.
Implementation Method 1
The wireless communication components communicate with transmission wavelengths that permit the robot and the peripheral device to be outside a line of sight
Data Source
AI summary
A power-saving robot system includes at least one peripheral device and a mobile robot. The peripheral device includes a controller having an active mode and a hibernation mode, and a wireless communication component capable of activation in the hibernation mode. A controller of the robot has an activating routine that communicates with and temporarily activates the peripheral device, via wireless communication, from the hibernation mode. In another aspect a robot system includes a network data bridge and a mobile robot. The network data bridge includes a broadband network interface, a wireless command interface, and a data bridge component. The data bridge component extracts serial commands received via the broadband network interface from an internet protocol, applies a command protocol thereto, and broadcasts the serial commands via the wireless interface. The mobile robot includes a wireless command communication component that receives the serial commands transmitted from the network data bridge.