Autonomous Robotic Mapping via Sensor Data Merging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current autonomous robotic systems lack the ability for dynamic collaboration and autonomous communication, limiting their efficiency in tasks that require extended situational awareness and coordination beyond their immediate field of view.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a method for autonomous robotic devices to capture and process sensor readings, generate and share maps of their environment, and adjust their operations based on shared intelligence, allowing them to collaborate and optimize tasks such as navigation and resource allocation without human intervention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If autonomous robotic devices operate independently with their own sensors and maps, then each device can function autonomously, but the overall system efficiency and situational awareness are limited by individual field of view
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges sensor data and maps from multiple autonomous robotic devices to create a collaborative extended map that combines individual fields of view. This allows the system to achieve broader situational awareness while maintaining autonomous operation of each device.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a communication interface as an intermediary that enables autonomous robotic devices to share sensor data and maps without requiring direct human intervention or centralized control, thus maintaining autonomy while achieving system-level awareness.
2Loss of information
If robotic devices share and process sensor data from multiple sources, then the extended field of view and situational awareness improve, but the computational complexity and data processing requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the collaborative mapping process into distinct modules: sensor data capture, data sharing through communication interface, map generation, and map updating. This modular approach reduces processing complexity by handling each function separately rather than simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary processing of sensor data at the source device before sharing, including initial map generation and filtering. This reduces the complexity of subsequent processing at receiving devices by pre-processing data to extract only essential information.
3Adaptability or versatility
If autonomous robotic devices collaborate dynamically without hierarchical control, then operational flexibility and adaptability improve, but coordination and communication protocols become more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service mechanisms where autonomous robotic devices independently determine when to share data, what data to share, and how to integrate received data. This eliminates the need for complex centralized coordination protocols while maintaining operational flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables dynamic collaboration where robotic devices can autonomously establish and terminate communication connections based on operational needs. The collaborative map is continuously updated in real-time as devices move and discover new areas, providing adaptability without rigid hierarchical control.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a medium storing instructions that when executed by a processor of a first wheeled device effectuates operations including: capturing sensor readings of an environment; finding a position of the first wheeled device within a map of the environment based on at least some of the sensor readings; and generating a new map of the environment when the processor is unable to load the previously generated map or cannot find the position of the first wheeled device within the previously generated map; wherein: the map is previously generated with the processor of the first wheeled device or a processor of a second wheeled device; the map is loaded into a memory of the first wheeled device at a beginning of each work session; and the processor of the first wheeled device iteratively tracks the position of the first wheeled device while performing a task.