Single-Camera Field Partitioning for Robot Teleoperation Views
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing solutions for capturing downward-facing images in autonomous robots are costly, complex to integrate, strain USB bandwidth, and increase the risk of sensor failure, limiting visual information and operational efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A camera system with an optical component that partitions the field-of-view into multiple system fields, using a single camera to capture a superimposed image, which is then processed to generate distinct images for each field-of-view, enhancing visual information without additional sensors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If dedicated downward-facing cameras or sensors are incorporated, then visual information for teleoperation is improved, but system cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The existing camera device is made multi-functional by using an optical component to capture both forward-facing and downward-facing images simultaneously. This allows the single camera to serve multiple purposes (teleoperation and obstacle avoidance) without requiring additional dedicated sensors, thereby improving visual information while avoiding increased system cost.
Solution Approach 2:
An optical component acts as an intermediary between the existing camera device and the environment. This component redirects light paths to enable the camera to capture downward-facing images without physically moving the camera or adding dedicated downward-facing sensors, thus improving visual information while maintaining cost-effectiveness.
2Area of stationary object
If additional cameras or sensors are integrated, then field-of-view is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The optical component enables the existing camera to capture multiple field-of-views (forward and downward) simultaneously, expanding the effective field-of-view without requiring additional camera modules or sensors. This maintains manufacturing simplicity while achieving expanded coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
The optical component segments the light paths from different directions (forward and downward) and directs them to the single camera sensor. This segmentation of light paths allows the camera to capture multiple perspectives without physically segmenting the camera system itself, thereby expanding field-of-view while keeping manufacturing simple.
3Loss of information
If multiple cameras are used, then visual coverage is improved, but USB bandwidth consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The optical component enables a single camera to capture multiple field-of-views simultaneously, providing improved visual coverage (forward and downward images) while generating only one image stream. This eliminates the bandwidth consumption issue associated with streaming multiple separate camera feeds while maintaining comprehensive visual coverage.
4Loss of information
If more sensors are added, then situational awareness is improved, but reliability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
By making the existing camera multi-functional through the optical component, the system improves situational awareness (both forward and downward views) while actually reducing the number of sensors. This eliminates the reliability issue of having multiple sensors that could fail, while still achieving comprehensive situational awareness through the single enhanced camera system.
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
The solution provides enhanced situational awareness, reduces costs, simplifies manufacturing, optimizes bandwidth, and minimizes maintenance, while maintaining high-quality visual information for teleoperation and obstacle avoidance.
Implementation Method 1
an optical component for partitioning the device field-of-view at least into a first system field-of-view of the camera system and a second system field-of-view of the camera system
Implementation Method 2
an optical component for partitioning the device field-of-view at least into a first system field-of-view of the camera system and a second system field-of-view of the camera system
Data Source
Figure 1(a)~1(d)
Figure 2(a)~2(c)
Figure 3(a)~3(c)
AI summary
A control method in an apparatus having a camera system (10) for recording an environment of said apparatus, the camera system (10) including a camera device (12) for capturing an image across a device field-of-view of the camera device (12) and an optical component (14) for partitioning the device field-of-view at least into a first system field-of-view (16a) of the camera system (10) and a second system field-of-view (16b) of the camera system (10), the second system field-of-view (16b) being different to the first system field-of-view (16a) such that the camera device (12) is capable of capturing a superimposed image (18) at least across the first system field-of-view (16a) and the second system field-of-view (16b).