Autonomous Robot Speed Synchronization on Moving Walkways
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Solution Overview
Problem
Autonomous robots face challenges in safely navigating and interacting with moving walkways and escalators, risking collisions with people and obstacles due to mismatched speeds and trajectories, which can lead to accidents and inefficient operations.
Innovation Solution
A method that involves detecting environmental data using sensors, determining robot transport data including trajectory and conveyor speed, synchronizing robot and conveyor speeds, and ensuring safe movement onto and off the transportation means by adjusting speeds and positions to prevent collisions and ensure stable transport.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the robot moves autonomously on moving walkways and escalators without speed synchronization, then the robot can maintain its own movement speed and trajectory, but collisions with people and obstacles occur due to mismatched speeds
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously detects the robot's position, speed, and trajectory using sensors (cameras, LIDAR, ultrasonic sensors) and compares this data with the desired transport parameters. The control system adjusts the robot's speed and trajectory in real-time based on this feedback to maintain synchronization with the moving walkway or escalator, preventing collisions while ensuring safe transport.
Solution Approach 2:
The robot is equipped with autonomous navigation capabilities including onboard sensors, processors, and control systems that enable it to independently detect its environment, determine optimal trajectories, and adjust its movement without external intervention. The robot autonomously identifies when to enter/exit transport means and self-regulates its speed to match the conveyor belt speed.
2Reliability
If the robot synchronizes speed with the conveyor belt, then safe transport is achieved, but the robot loses independence in maintaining its own movement speed
Solution Approach 1:
The robot's speed and trajectory are dynamically adjusted based on real-time conditions. During transport phases, the robot synchronizes its speed with the conveyor belt for safety. During navigation phases (approach, exit, obstacle avoidance), the robot independently controls its speed and trajectory. This dynamic switching between synchronized and independent movement modes resolves the contradiction between safety and independence.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the robot's movement parameters (speed, trajectory, acceleration) based on its operational state. When approaching or exiting transport means, the robot uses independent speed control. When on the transport means, the robot changes to synchronized speed control matching the conveyor belt. These parameter changes enable the robot to adapt to different operational requirements.
3Reliability
If the robot uses complex detection and synchronization systems, then collision risk is reduced, but the system complexity and computational requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The detection and control system is segmented into multiple independent sensor modules (cameras for visual detection, LIDAR for distance measurement, ultrasonic sensors for proximity detection) and separate processing functions. Each sensor type handles specific detection tasks, and the control system processes information in discrete stages (environmental detection, trajectory calculation, speed adjustment). This segmentation reduces overall system complexity by dividing the complex function into manageable, specialized components.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a method for moving on and off a transportation means (3) with an autonomous robot (1). The present invention also refers to a system (17) comprising means for executing the steps of the method. Furthermore, the present invention refers to the robot (1) and the transportation means (3). Furthermore, the present invention refers to a computer program comprising instructions which, when the program is executed by a computer, cause the computer to execute the steps of the method. Furthermore, the present invention refers to a data carrier signal, which the computer program transmits. Furthermore, the present invention refers to a computer-readable medium comprising instructions which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to execute the steps of the method.