Self-Moving Toy Navigation Using 3D RFID Action Markers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing educational robots and toys are limited in their ability to move freely on surfaces without mechanical guidance, restricting their educational impact and interactive capabilities.
Innovation Solution
A self-moving vehicle equipped with electrically driven wheels or legs that can navigate freely on a two-dimensional surface, using tangible three-dimensional markers with machine-readable information items, such as RFID tags, to control its movements and actions through wireless readout and sensor detection, allowing for programmable interactions and feedback.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the robot uses a closed street of cards for navigation, then navigation reliability is improved, but movement freedom is restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical guidance system (rails, tracks) with a wireless communication system. The robot uses wireless communication means to receive navigation instructions from markers containing identification information, eliminating the need for physical constraints while maintaining reliable navigation through structured information exchange.
2Measurement precision
If the robot is equipped with complex navigation infrastructure, then navigation precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The navigation system is segmented into independent markers distributed throughout the environment, each containing identification information. The robot processes these discrete markers individually through wireless communication, avoiding the need for complex integrated navigation infrastructure while achieving precise location identification.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the robot operates without mechanical guidance, then movement freedom is improved, but navigation reliability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces markers as intermediary elements that mediate between the robot's movement freedom and navigation reliability. These markers contain identification information that the robot reads wirelessly, providing reliable navigation cues without imposing mechanical constraints on the robot's movement paths.
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 children to learn programming in a playful and interactive way by allowing the vehicle to move and respond to markers placed freely on a surface, enhancing educational impact through customizable actions and preventing information overload by using distance thresholds.
Implementation Method 1
The self-moving vehicle (10) comprises at least one sensor (11) which is adapted for a wireless readout of the machine-readable information item (21) of the marker (20)
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to an educational toy (1) comprising a self-moving vehicle (10) adapted to move and steer freely on a two-dimensional surface (2) such as a table leaf. A tangible, three-dimensional marker (20) comprising at least one RFID tag (21) is used to wirelessly trigger a specific action of the vehicle (10), e.g. turn 90 degrees right, when the vehicle (10) enters a readout range of the marker (20). The marker (20) can be placed freely on the surface (2) and cannot be overrun by the vehicle (10). Thus, the vehicle (10) is instructed to perform a certain action, e.g. take a 90 degrees left turn, using the marker (20). Then, the vehicle (10) moves forward until a next marker (20') is found from which the vehicle (10) receives its next instruction. This enables the educational toy (1) to teach programming during play, which reduces the risk that children will lose interest.