Robotic Forklift Light Arrays for Visible Obstacle Detection
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current robotic devices, such as autonomous material handling vehicles, lack a visible mechanism to indicate the detection of obstacles, particularly to human observers, leading to uncertainty about their awareness of human presence.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a light array, like a string or bar of lights, on the robotic device to visually indicate obstacle detection, with lights facing the detected obstacle, signaling its presence and distance, and optionally varying color based on the type of obstacle.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If no visual indication system is implemented, then the robotic device maintains simple operation and low cost, but observers cannot know if the obstacle detection system is working properly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a visual feedback system where lights on the robotic device indicate the status of obstacle detection. When obstacles are detected, specific lights illuminate to provide real-time feedback to observers about the detection system's status and the presence of obstacles, thereby resolving the contradiction between reliability and complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses different colors of lights to indicate different obstacle detection states and obstacle types. This color-coding system provides intuitive visual information about the detection system's reliability without requiring complex displays or interfaces, effectively balancing reliability improvement with minimal added complexity.
2Loss of information
If a light array is implemented to indicate obstacle detection, then observer awareness of obstacle detection status is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the visual indication system into multiple discrete light elements arranged in patterns around the robotic device. Each light or light pattern represents specific information about obstacle detection, allowing complex information to be communicated through simple, segmented visual elements rather than a single complex display.
Solution Approach 2:
The light array serves multiple functions: indicating obstacle presence, signaling detection system status, communicating distance information, and potentially indicating obstacle type. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate systems for each function, thereby limiting the increase in overall device complexity while maximizing information transmission.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If lights are used to signal obstacle detection, then human workers' safety is improved through better awareness, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs lights that illuminate periodically or only when obstacle detection events occur, rather than continuous illumination. This periodic activation significantly reduces energy consumption compared to constant lighting, while still providing adequate safety information to human workers during critical moments when obstacles are detected.
Solution Approach 2:
The lighting system activates specific local regions or individual lights based on the location and nature of detected obstacles, rather than illuminating the entire device uniformly. This localized lighting approach minimizes energy consumption by activating only the necessary light elements while maintaining safety awareness in the relevant areas.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Provides a clear visual indication of obstacle detection, enhancing observer awareness and allowing detection system issues to be identified, mimicking human operator signaling, and ensuring safe operation by indicating relative position and type of obstacles.
Implementation Method 1
A light array, e.g., string or bar of lights, used as obstacle detection indicators
Data Source
AI summary
A light array, e.g., string or bar of lights, is used as an obstacle detection indicator with the lights being arranged on one or more sides of a robotic device. The indication of a detected object, through the use of one or more lights facing in the direction of the detected obstacle provide a visual signal that can be easily perceived by a human in the area of the robotic device. The robotic device may be an autonomous, semi-autonomous, or remotely controlled material handling vehicle, e.g., a robotic forklift. Light is emitted from the robotic device, e.g., via lights facing the direction of a detected obstacle to signal that the obstacle has been detected and the determined distance to the detected obstacle. In this way the obstacle detector indicator light provides an observer with a visible indicator that the system is aware of the presence of the detected obstacle.