Robotic Lighting Control via Spline Timing Profiles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current techniques for controlling lighting displays and motion in robotic devices are complex and resource-intensive, requiring significant computational resources that may exceed the capabilities of control processors, especially when translating high-level animations into hardware-level control signals.
Innovation Solution
The process involves converting high-level programming data into basis splines that represent lighting or motion patterns, using a knot vector to define a timing profile, allowing for efficient translation between non-real-time and real-time processing, and controlling individual lights or motors based on calculated values at discrete time steps.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If high-level animations are translated into hardware-level control signals using present development techniques, then lighting displays and motion can be coordinated, but computational resources required exceed the capabilities of control processors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the control system into two distinct processor types: non-real-time processors that perform complex animation translation and generation of control data, and real-time control processors that execute the pre-generated control signals. This segmentation allows computationally intensive tasks to be separated from time-critical execution tasks, enabling coordinated lighting and motion without overloading the control processor.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary translation of high-level animations into hardware-level control signals using non-real-time processors before the actual real-time execution. By pre-generating the control data and converting animation files into processor-specific formats in advance, the system eliminates the need for complex real-time computation during actual operation, allowing the control processor to simply execute pre-prepared commands.
2Ease of operation
If complex translation processes are used to convert high-level animations into control signals, then detailed animations can be produced, but the process becomes resource intensive and complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary translation layer that converts high-level animation files into intermediate representation formats that are then processed into hardware-specific control signals. This intermediary step simplifies the overall process by creating a standardized intermediate format that bridges the gap between high-level programming and low-level hardware control, reducing both the complexity and resource requirements of the translation process.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates intermediate representations and control data copies that can be stored and reused. By generating control data in advance and creating reusable intermediate formats, the system avoids repeatedly performing complex translation operations, thereby reducing both the apparent complexity and actual computational resources required during operation.
3Adaptability or versatility
If standardized control methods are implemented across different robotic devices, then portability of application code is improved, but adaptation to specific device configurations (e.g., number of LEDs) is required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal control interface that can work across different robotic device configurations. The system uses standardized data structures and control protocols that are device-agnostic, allowing the same high-level animation code to run on different devices. Configuration-specific parameters (such as number of LEDs) are handled through standardized configuration files or runtime initialization, maintaining code portability while adapting to specific hardware variations.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for receiving, by one or more non-real-time processors, data defining a light illumination pattern for a robotic device. Generating, by the one or more non-real-time processors and based on the data, a spline that represents the light illumination pattern, where a knot vector of the spline defines a timing profile of the light illumination pattern. Providing the spline to one or more real-time processors of the robotic system. Calculating, by the one or more real-time processors, an illumination value from the spline at each of a plurality of time steps. Controlling, by the one or more real-time processors, illumination of a lighting display of the robotic system in accordance with the illumination value of the spline at each respective time step.