Multi-Sensor Environment Monitoring via Zone Segmentation and Dynamic Orientation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing surveillance methods using multiple sensors to monitor environments are inefficient due to complex coordination, leading to poorly monitored areas, as they often fail to cover the area quickly enough.
Innovation Solution
A method that divides the environment into elementary zones, calculates geographical positions for each sensor, evaluates information level contributions, determines the best pointing direction for each sensor based on information level inputs, and controls sensors to optimize information gain while minimizing energy cost.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single rotating sensor is used to perform repeated scans, then the device complexity is reduced, but the monitoring coverage speed is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the monitoring system into multiple independent sensors instead of using a single rotating sensor. Each sensor can independently scan its designated zone, enabling parallel monitoring of different areas simultaneously. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by maintaining simple individual sensor designs while achieving fast comprehensive coverage through coordinated operation of multiple sensors.
2Productivity
If a plurality of sensors are used to cover the area quickly, then the monitoring coverage speed is improved, but the coordination complexity increases and creates poorly monitored areas
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a centralized coordination system that receives status information from all sensors and dynamically adjusts their scanning patterns. The coordination unit processes feedback about current monitoring status and optimizes sensor positioning to eliminate gaps and redundancies. This feedback mechanism resolves the contradiction by enabling fast comprehensive coverage while maintaining optimal coordination through continuous monitoring and adjustment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs dynamic scanning patterns where sensors can adjust their scanning speed, direction, and focus based on real-time conditions. The system transitions from static predetermined scanning paths to dynamic adaptive scanning that responds to detected targets and changing environmental conditions. This dynamic approach resolves the contradiction by enabling fast coverage through optimized sensor positioning while reducing coordination complexity through adaptive rather than rigid control.
3Reliability
If sensors continuously scan all areas, then the monitoring coverage is comprehensive, but the energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic scanning where sensors alternate between active scanning phases and idle phases. Instead of continuous scanning, sensors perform systematic scans at optimized intervals, maintaining comprehensive monitoring coverage while allowing energy-saving idle periods. This periodic approach resolves the contradiction by ensuring reliable comprehensive coverage through regular scanning cycles while reducing energy consumption during idle intervals between scans.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different scanning strategies to different spatial zones based on their importance and risk levels. High-priority zones receive more frequent and intensive scanning, while low-priority zones are monitored less frequently. This localized quality approach resolves the contradiction by maintaining reliable coverage of critical areas while reducing energy consumption in less important areas through reduced scanning intensity.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a method of monitoring an environment by a plurality of carriers each equipped with a sensor (14) capable of pointing the environment in a respective pointing direction to acquire information on a part of the environment, the method comprising the steps of: - dividing the environment into several elementary zones, - calculating the geographical position relative to each sensor (14), - evaluating the contribution in level of information on the environment for each pointing direction of the sensors (14) of each carrier (12), the gain in level of information taking into account the calculated geographical positions, - determining the best pointing direction of each sensor (14) according to the contributions in level of information evaluated, and - controlling each sensor (14) so that each sensor (14) points in the best direction determined.