Service Robot Data Handoff for Continuous Field Robot Operation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing robotic systems for agricultural operations face challenges in efficiently transferring large amounts of data between mobile robots and logistic units without interrupting field operations, leading to potential data loss and increased soil compaction.
Innovation Solution
A robotic system comprising a mobile field robot and a mobile service robot, equipped with buffers and short-range communication devices, allows for data transfer between the field robot and the service robot, which then transfers the data to a logistic unit, eliminating the need for the field robot to return to the logistic unit.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the field robot returns to the logistic unit for data transfer, then data can be transferred to the logistic unit, but the field operation is interrupted and soil compaction increases
Solution Approach 1:
The service robot acts as a mobile intermediary data transfer station that travels to the field robot's location to receive data. This mediator approach allows data transfer without the field robot needing to return to the logistic unit, thus maintaining field operation continuity while ensuring reliable data transfer through the service robot's buffer storage capability
2Device complexity
If the field robot has limited buffer capacity, then the system is simpler and cheaper, but data loss occurs when buffer is full during dead zone operations
Solution Approach 1:
The system monitors the field robot's buffer capacity in advance and triggers a data transfer operation before the buffer becomes full. By detecting insufficient free buffer space before data loss can occur, the system activates the service robot to collect data, thus cushioning against the potential harm of data loss while maintaining simple buffer hardware
3Speed
If fast data transfer is implemented, then data can be transferred quickly, but the field robot must leave the working area increasing downtime
Solution Approach 1:
The service robot travels to the field robot's location in advance and establishes communication before the field robot needs to transfer data. This preliminary positioning allows the field robot to transfer data in-place without leaving the working area, thus achieving fast data transfer without incurring downtime losses
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention provides a method for exchanging data within a robotic system comprising a mobile field robot for operating in a field and a mobile service robot, the field robot and the service robot each comprising a buffer for storing data and a first communication device with a short-range communication reach for exchanging data with each other, the method comprising the steps: - commanding the field robot to operate in the field using data stored in the buffer of the field robot, - recognizing a necessity of a data transfer for the field robot, - commanding the service robot to approach to the field robot, - detecting that one of the robots is covered by the short-range communication reach of the other robot, - initiating a data transfer between the field robot and the service robot.