Robotic Work Tool Navigation in Satellite-Shadowed Areas
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Solution Overview
Problem
Robotic work tools face navigation challenges in areas with unreliable satellite signal reception, where existing solutions relying on deduced reckoning and SLAM technologies are costly and inefficient, and fail to account for dynamic shadowed areas.
Innovation Solution
A robotic work tool system equipped with a memory, distance sensor, and navigation sensor that determines its location and detects shadowed areas, switching to radar-based navigation using distance sensors to navigate by detecting objects and their distances, ensuring reliable operation even in areas with poor satellite signal reception.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If satellite navigation is used for precise navigation, then navigation accuracy is improved, but navigation reliability deteriorates in shadowed areas
Solution Approach 1:
The system proactively maps shadowed areas by detecting objects and determining shadow locations before the robotic work tool enters them. This preliminary mapping allows the system to prepare alternative navigation strategies in advance, ensuring continuous reliable navigation even when satellite signals become unavailable in shadowed regions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces an intermediary navigation approach using detected objects as reference points. When satellite navigation becomes unreliable in shadowed areas, the robotic work tool switches to using previously detected objects and their stored locations as intermediate references to maintain accurate positioning and navigation.
2Reliability
If SLAM technologies are used to navigate in shadowed areas, then navigation reliability is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts and utilizes only the essential elements needed for shadowed area navigation - specifically, detected objects and their locations stored in memory. By taking out only the necessary object detection and storage functions rather than implementing full SLAM technology, the system achieves reliable shadowed area navigation with significantly reduced complexity and cost.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses simple, inexpensive object detection and memory storage instead of expensive SLAM sensors and computing resources. The detected objects serve as temporary but sufficient reference points for navigation in shadowed areas, providing a cost-effective alternative to complex SLAM technologies.
3Reliability
If static mapping of shadowed areas is used, then navigation in known shadowed areas is improved, but adaptability to dynamic shadowed areas deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adapts to changing shadowed areas by continuously detecting objects and updating shadow location information. When satellites are not stationary and shadowed areas move to different locations, the system's object detection and memory storage approach automatically adapts to the new shadow configurations, maintaining navigation reliability without requiring static pre-mapping.
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
Enables accurate and efficient navigation in shadowed areas by proactively mapping and utilizing radar sensors to determine object locations and distances, ensuring continuous operation without relying on costly SLAM technologies.
Implementation Method 1
A robotic work tool system equipped with a memory, distance sensor, and navigation sensor that determines its location and detects shadowed areas, switching to radar-based navigation using distance sensors
Data Source
AI summary
A method for use in a robotic work tool (100) arranged to operate in an operational area, the robotic work tool comprising a memory configured to store a location of at least one object, a distance sensor (195), a navigation sensor (185) being based on signal-reception and a controller, the method comprising:—determining a location of the robotic work tool (100) utilizing the navigation sensor (185);—determining that a shadowed area is encountered, wherein navigation utilizing the navigation sensor is not reliable; and—in response thereto navigating utilizing the distance sensor based on detecting at least one object and a distance to the at least one object utilizing the distance sensor (195), the stored at least one object and the location of the robotic work tool (100).