Spherical Self-Propelled Robot With Touch-Guided Autonomous Navigation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing remotely controllable devices lack versatility and efficient control methods, particularly in navigating and interacting with their environment, especially when carrying payloads that require precise movement and real-time feedback.
Innovation Solution
A multi-purpose self-propelled device with a spherical housing, equipped with a drive system, biasing mechanism, and payload space, capable of wireless communication and control, utilizing sensors and a camera for real-time video feed and touch-driven control, allowing users to dynamically maneuver the device based on live video input.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a spherical housing with drive system and biasing mechanism is used, then the device achieves self-propulsion and versatile navigation capabilities, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The device is segmented into distinct functional modules: a spherical housing containing the drive system, a separate biasing mechanism with springs, a payload space, and a control system. This modular segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently while maintaining overall versatility and reducing complexity through organized functional separation.
Solution Approach 2:
The spherical housing serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides structural containment, acts as a rolling element for navigation, houses the drive system, and supports the biasing mechanism. This multi-functionality reduces the number of separate components needed, thereby managing complexity while enhancing versatility.
2Measurement precision
If sensors and camera are integrated for real-time feedback, then measurement precision and control accuracy improve, but device complexity and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The camera and sensors are merged into an integrated feedback system that combines visual data with other sensor inputs (accelerometers, gyroscopes). This consolidation provides comprehensive real-time measurement precision while reducing overall system complexity by creating a unified control architecture rather than separate independent systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The camera and sensors continuously provide real-time feedback about the device's position, orientation, and environment to the control system. This feedback loop enables precise measurement and accurate control decisions, improving measurement precision while the automated nature of the feedback reduces operational complexity.
3Ease of operation
If wireless communication and control systems are added, then ease of operation improves, but use of energy and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The wireless communication system operates using periodic transmission cycles rather than continuous communication. The control device transmits commands in discrete packets and receives feedback periodically, which reduces energy consumption compared to continuous operation while maintaining ease of remote operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The device incorporates autonomous capabilities that allow it to self-navigate and self-adjust based on sensor feedback, reducing the frequency and duration of wireless communication needed. This self-service approach minimizes energy consumption from wireless systems while maintaining ease of operation through automated decision-making.
Data Source
AI summary
A self-propelled device can include at least a wireless interface, a housing, a propulsion mechanism, and a camera. Using the camera, the self-propelled device can generate a video feed and transmit the video feed to a controller device via the wireless interface. The self-propelled device can receive an input from the controller device indicating an object or location in the video feed. In response to the input, the self-propelled device can initiate an autonomous mode to autonomously operate the propulsion mechanism to propel the self-propelled device towards the object or location indicated in the video feed.