Wireless Signal-Aware Path Planning for Reliable Robot Navigation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing path planning methods in intelligent control systems only consider location and obstacle information, limiting their effectiveness by not accounting for signal quality, which affects the efficiency and reliability of task execution by intelligent execution apparatuses.

Innovation Solution

A method that calculates a pass-through cost based on both the distance and signal quality of wireless signals in each area, allowing for more informed path planning by quantizing these factors into a cost structure, thereby optimizing the path planning process.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If path planning only considers location and obstacle information, then the path planning process is simple, but the task execution efficiency is low

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetask execution efficiencyVSAvoidpath planning complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces signal quality as a new parameter to transform traditional path planning. By incorporating signal quality metrics (such as wireless signal strength, communication quality) into the path evaluation criteria, the system can select paths that not only avoid obstacles but also maintain better communication and positioning capabilities, thereby improving task execution efficiency without significantly increasing system complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent adds a new dimension to path planning by considering signal quality characteristics alongside traditional spatial parameters. Instead of only evaluating paths based on geometric distance and obstacle avoidance, the system now evaluates paths in a multi-dimensional space that includes signal quality metrics, enabling more intelligent path selection that balances multiple objectives

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Reliability

If path planning only considers location and obstacle information, then the planning process is fast, but the path reliability is low

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepath reliabilityVSAvoidoperating time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary signal quality assessment and path evaluation before actual path execution. By pre-calculating path reliability based on signal quality characteristics and preparing optimal paths in advance, the system ensures that the intelligent execution apparatus follows reliable paths from the start, reducing the need for corrections and re-planning during execution

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements a feedback mechanism where signal quality information is continuously monitored during path execution. The system uses this feedback to dynamically adjust and optimize the path, ensuring that the apparatus remains on paths with acceptable signal quality, thereby maintaining high reliability while minimizing unnecessary time loss

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP3567447B1Path planning method and device
Publication Date: 2023.01.11 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP3567447B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3567447B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3567447B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

Embodiments of the present invention provide a path planning method and device, to implement better path planning. The method includes: obtaining, based on a pass-through distance of each of a plurality of first areas and signal quality of a wireless signal in each first area, a pass-through cost for passing through each first area; obtaining a start location and a target location; and performing path planning based on the pass-through cost for passing through each first area, to determine a pass-through path from the start location to the target location, where the pass-through path includes an area passed through from the start location to the target location.