Method for overcoming obstructions of a robotic device
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Solution Overview
Problem
Autonomous or semi-autonomous robotic devices often become inoperable due to encountering obstructions such as cords, hair, or unexpected elevation changes, requiring physical intervention to resolve the issues, which is undesirable as it disrupts their work tasks and requires external assistance.
Innovation Solution
A robotic device equipped with a camera and processor that captures images of its environment, identifies obstructions using a database, alters its navigation path to avoid them, and notifies the user, while also having mechanisms to autonomously attempt to overcome obstructions by providing additional power or reversing direction, and utilizing modules like combing to dislodge entangled items.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the robotic device operates autonomously without external assistance, then productivity is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to inability to overcome obstructions independently
Solution Approach 1:
The robotic device is equipped with sensors, processors, and actuators that enable it to detect obstructions, classify their types, and execute appropriate response actions independently. The device serves itself by autonomously navigating around cords, reversing to dislodge entangled items, and adjusting its operation without requiring human intervention, thus maintaining both productivity and reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The robotic device continuously monitors its environment using sensors and receives feedback about obstructions. Based on this feedback, the processor determines the obstruction type and selects appropriate responses. The device also monitors its own operational status and adjusts its behavior accordingly, creating a closed-loop control system that enhances both continuous operation capability and operational reliability
2Reliability
If the robotic device encounters obstructions such as cords or entangled hair, then reliability deteriorates due to becoming inoperable, but adding complex obstruction handling mechanisms increases device complexity
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of adding complex mechanical structures to physically remove or cut obstructions, the patent substitutes mechanical solutions with sensor-based detection and software-based decision-making. The device uses cameras, sensors, and image processing algorithms to detect and classify obstructions, then uses navigation algorithms and motor control to respond appropriately, replacing potential mechanical complexity with computational simplicity
Solution Approach 2:
The robotic device employs a universal obstruction handling approach that works for multiple types of obstructions (cords, hair, debris) using the same sensor suite and processing system. Rather than adding specialized mechanisms for each obstruction type, the device uses a single multi-functional system that adapts its response based on what it detects, thereby maintaining reliability without increasing structural complexity
3Device complexity
If the robotic device requires physical intervention to resolve obstructions, then device complexity is reduced, but productivity deteriorates due to work task disruption
Solution Approach 1:
The robotic device independently handles obstructions that would traditionally require human intervention. By equipping the device with obstruction detection sensors and autonomous response capabilities, it serves itself by detecting, classifying, and responding to obstructions without stopping its work tasks, thereby maintaining simplicity while improving productivity
Solution Approach 2:
The robotic device detects obstructions before they cause operational failures. By continuously monitoring the environment and identifying potential hazards in advance, the device can take preliminary actions such as navigating around cords or adjusting its path to avoid entanglement, preventing work task disruption before it occurs
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a method for a robotic device to autonomously overcome obstructions hindering the operational capacity of the robotic device. When a robotic device encounters an obstruction, the robotic device may enact one of a number of predetermined responses to overcome the obstruction without requiring the intervention of an outside entity to assist the robotic device with overcoming the obstruction.