Robotic Link Prediction Protocol for Ambiguous Indoor Communications

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing robotic communication protocols face challenges in establishing reliable end-to-end communication due to dynamic robot movements, battery constraints, and the absence of GPS, leading to link ambiguity and packet loss in indoor environments.

Innovation Solution

The Assisted Link Prediction (ALP) protocol, which uses a Collaborative Robotic based Link Prediction (CRLP) mechanism to compute a link matrix and dynamically update thresholds based on beacon packet reception and acknowledgement, enhancing prediction accuracy and resolving link ambiguity through intelligent threshold learning.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If dynamic robot movements are allowed in indoor environments, then robot mobility and task flexibility are improved, but communication reliability and link stability deteriorate due to link ambiguity and packet loss

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverobot mobilityVSAvoidcommunication reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary link prediction by computing a link matrix and comparing it with a covariance matrix threshold before actual communication occurs. This predictive approach anticipates link availability changes due to robot movement, allowing the system to prepare communication strategies in advance and maintain reliability despite mobility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback mechanisms by dynamically updating the link prediction based on received beacon packets and acknowledgments. The threshold is adjusted according to actual communication outcomes, creating a closed-loop system that continuously adapts to maintain communication reliability while robots move dynamically.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Device complexity

If traditional link prediction methods are used without dynamic threshold updating, then system complexity is reduced, but link prediction accuracy and communication reliability worsen due to link ambiguity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem complexityVSAvoidlink prediction accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system introduces dynamics by making the threshold adaptive rather than fixed. The threshold is continuously updated based on the ratio of successful acknowledgments to total beacon packets received, allowing the link prediction accuracy to improve over time while adapting to changing environmental conditions and robot movements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs self-adjustment by automatically updating its own threshold based on observed communication outcomes. Through the ALP protocol, the system learns from its own performance data (acknowledgment ratios) and autonomously optimizes its link prediction criteria without external intervention, thereby improving accuracy while maintaining reasonable complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Reliability

If continuous communication monitoring is performed to ensure reliability, then communication reliability is improved, but energy consumption increases due to battery constraints

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication reliabilityVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of continuous monitoring, the system uses periodic beacon packets exchanged at intervals to assess link quality. This periodic approach maintains communication reliability by regularly checking link status while significantly reducing energy consumption compared to continuous monitoring, as robots only activate communication hardware at scheduled intervals.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs partial monitoring by selectively updating thresholds only when sufficient beacon packets are received and processed. Rather than continuously analyzing every possible communication parameter, the system focuses on the essential acknowledgment ratio metric, achieving reliable link prediction with minimal energy expenditure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentEP3441203B1System and method for assisted link prediction mechanism in robotic communications
Publication Date: 2021.02.24 TATA CONSULTANCY SERVICES LTD
  • EP3441203B1 patent drawingFigure 1
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  • EP3441203B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Robotic applications are important in both indoor and outdoor environments. Establishing reliable end-to-end communication among robots in such environments are inevitable. Many real-time challenges in robotic communications are mainly due to the dynamic movement of robots, battery constraints, absence of Global Position System (GPS), etc. Systems and methods of the present disclosure provide assisted link prediction (ALP) protocol for communication between robots that resolves real-time challenges link ambiguity, prediction accuracy, improving Packet Reception Ratio (PRR) and reducing energy consumption in-terms of lesser retransmissions by computing link matrix between robots and determining status of a Collaborative Robotic based Link Prediction (CRLP) link prediction based on a comparison of link matrix value with a predefined covariance link matrix threshold. Based on determined status, robots either transmit or receive packet, and the predefined covariance link matrix threshold is dynamically updated. If the link to be predicted is unavailable, the system resolves ambiguity thereby enabling communication between robots.