Sensor-Guided Robotic Cart Control for Human-Safe Navigation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Robotic systems face challenges in effectively interacting with humans in dynamic environments due to the complexity and unpredictability of human behavior, requiring improved techniques for human-robot interaction to ensure safe and efficient operation.
Innovation Solution
The development of robotic carts equipped with sensors and control units that enable autonomous navigation, collision avoidance, and manual operation modes, allowing them to adapt to human presence and direction, while also performing tasks such as object manipulation and transportation in various settings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If robotic systems operate autonomously in dynamic environments with human presence, then task execution capability is improved, but safety and collision avoidance become compromised due to unpredictable human behavior
Solution Approach 1:
The robotic cart implements dynamic operation mode switching between autonomous and manual modes. The control unit receives sensor data indicating human presence and dynamically adjusts the operation mode accordingly, allowing the system to adapt its behavior in real-time to ensure safety while maintaining productivity
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs multiple sensors (cameras, depth sensors, proximity sensors) that continuously monitor the environment and provide feedback to the control unit. This feedback mechanism enables the robotic cart to detect human presence and adjust its operation, switching from autonomous to manual mode when humans are detected nearby, thus ensuring safety without compromising task execution capability
2Measurement precision
If robotic carts are equipped with multiple sensors and control units for autonomous navigation, then navigation accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit serves multiple functions: it processes data from various sensors, determines operation modes (autonomous or manual), controls the mobility apparatus, and manages sensor operations. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated control systems for each function, thereby improving navigation accuracy without proportionally increasing system complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines multiple sensors (cameras, depth sensors, proximity sensors) and their processing functions into an integrated sensor system managed by a single control unit. This merging approach allows the system to achieve high navigation accuracy through multiple sensing modalities while avoiding the complexity of completely separate control systems for each sensor type
3Adaptability or versatility
If robotic carts switch between autonomous and manual operation modes, then adaptability to human presence is improved, but operation complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The robotic cart automatically detects human presence through its sensor system and self-manages the transition between autonomous and manual operation modes without requiring explicit user commands. The control unit autonomously determines when to switch modes based on sensor data, simplifying the user experience while maintaining high adaptability to human presence
Data Source
AI summary
This application describes systems, devices, computer readable media, and methods for the function and operation of robotic carts. A robotic cart may include a base component configured for the receipt of a payload, a battery unit, and a mobility apparatus. The robotic cart may include a handlebar component coupled with the base component. The handlebar unit may include a sensor unit configured to transmit a hand detection message when the handlebar unit is grasped by one or more hands and to transmit a force direction message indicating a two-dimensional direction associated with a directional force applied by one or more hands. The robotic cart may be configured to map the area around it and to autonomously move the robotic cart along a path to perform a task.