Robotic Work Area Mapping Using Sensor-Event Position Correction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Robotic work tools lack knowledge of the design and size of their operating areas, leading to inefficient navigation and operation within defined boundaries.

Innovation Solution

A robotic work tool system that uses communicatively coupled devices to receive and process sensor data and event data, determining accurate positions and features of the working area, allowing for the creation of improved maps that guide efficient operation and navigation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the robotic work tool moves in a random pattern within the working area, then the operational simplicity is maintained, but the operational efficiency is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperational efficiencyVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by defining the working area boundaries and characteristics before the robotic work tool begins its operational tasks. The controller stores information about the working area's dimensions, borders, and obstacles in advance, allowing the tool to make informed navigation decisions rather than moving randomly. This preliminary mapping and information storage enables more efficient path planning and task execution.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Loss of time

If the robotic work tool encounters borders and obstacles through random movement, then the system complexity is minimized, but the time to complete tasks increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetask completion timeVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements feedback mechanisms where the controller continuously receives information about the robotic work tool's position, the working area's boundaries, and obstacles. This feedback loop allows the controller to adjust the tool's navigation and task execution in real-time, optimizing paths and avoiding unnecessary movements. The stored working area information serves as reference data that the system compares against current sensor inputs to make intelligent decisions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Measurement precision

If the robotic work tool operates without knowledge of the working area design, then the ease of operation is maintained, but the navigation precision deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositioning accuracyVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by defining the working area boundaries and characteristics before the robotic work tool begins its operational tasks. The controller stores information about the working area's dimensions, borders, and obstacles in advance, allowing the tool to make informed navigation decisions rather than moving randomly. This preliminary mapping and information storage enables more efficient path planning and task execution.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback mechanisms where the controller continuously receives information about the robotic work tool's position, the working area's boundaries, and obstacles. This feedback loop allows the controller to adjust the tool's navigation and task execution in real-time, optimizing paths and avoiding unnecessary movements. The stored working area information serves as reference data that the system compares against current sensor inputs to make intelligent decisions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP4136518B1Robotic work tool system and method for defining a working area
Publication Date: 2024.07.03 HUSQVARNA AB
  • EP4136518B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4136518B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4136518B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

A robotic work tool system (200) for defining a working area (105) in which at least one robotic work tool (100) subsequently is intended to operate. The system (200) comprises at least one controller (210) being configured to receive sensor data for pose estimation and event data relating to a plurality of events of at least one robotic work tool (100) moving within the working area (105). The received sensor and event data are associated with each other in time. The controller (210) is configured to determine positions for the events based on the received sensor data associated with the respective event data and to determine features reflecting the working area (105) by relating positions associated with corresponding events with each other. The controller (210) is configured to adjust the determined positions based on the determined features by, for each feature, comparing the respective determined positions with each other; and determine, based on the adjusted positions, a map defining the working area (105).