Robots for serving food and/or drinks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Restaurants face challenges in using robots for service due to navigation difficulties posed by obstacles and spatial constraints, such as varying object dimensions and heights, which can lead to collision issues.
Innovation Solution
A robot equipped with multiple cameras for 360-degree obstacle detection, a processing unit to combine point clouds and determine obstacle boundaries, and a motor system for navigation, along with a temperature-resistant support for food and drinks, enabling effective collision avoidance and efficient route planning within restaurant environments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a robot is used for serving food and drinks in a restaurant, then service efficiency is improved, but navigation difficulty increases due to obstacles and spatial constraints
Solution Approach 1:
The robot's body is divided into a bottom portion and a top portion with different functions. The bottom portion contains navigation and obstacle avoidance systems for moving through the restaurant, while the top portion is dedicated to food service operations. This segmentation allows independent optimization of navigation capabilities without compromising service functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The robot employs multiple cameras at different positions and orientations (first camera at bottom viewing upward, second camera at top viewing upward, third camera at top viewing horizontally) to create a three-dimensional perception of the environment. This multi-dimensional sensing approach enables comprehensive obstacle detection and navigation in complex restaurant spaces with varying object heights and dimensions.
2Reliability
If multiple cameras are added for 360-degree obstacle detection, then collision avoidance capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple cameras capturing data from different positions and angles are merged into a unified point cloud representation. The processing unit integrates the first point cloud from the bottom camera, the second point cloud from the top camera, and the third point cloud from the horizontal camera to create a comprehensive three-dimensional model of the environment, enabling effective obstacle detection without requiring separate processing systems for each camera.
Solution Approach 2:
The multiple cameras serve multiple functions: the first and second cameras detect obstacles at different heights for collision avoidance, while all three cameras collectively enable navigation route planning. The processing unit universally processes point clouds from all cameras to determine obstacle boundaries and generate navigation routes, maximizing the utility of each sensing component.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the robot navigates through complex restaurant environments with varying object dimensions and heights, then service coverage is improved, but collision risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The robot performs preliminary obstacle detection by capturing point clouds from multiple cameras before navigation. The processing unit processes these point clouds to determine obstacle boundaries in advance, allowing the robot to plan its navigation route to avoid collisions before encountering obstacles during service operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The robot continuously monitors its environment using multiple cameras and processes the visual information to detect obstacles and adjust its navigation in real-time. The processing unit uses the captured point clouds to determine obstacle boundaries and provides feedback to the navigation system, enabling dynamic route adjustment to avoid collisions while maintaining service coverage.
Data Source
AI summary
A robot includes: a base having a plurality of wheels; a body having a bottom portion coupled above the base, and a top portion above the bottom portion, the top portion configured to support food and/or drink; a first camera at the bottom portion, wherein the first camera is oriented to view upward; and a second camera at the top portion, wherein the second camera is configured to view upward.