Spherical Self-Propelled Robot With Video-Guided Autonomous Navigation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing remotely controllable devices lack versatility and efficient control methods, particularly in navigating complex environments and carrying diverse payloads, with limited ability for dynamic user interaction and real-time video feedback.
Innovation Solution
A multi-purpose self-propelled device with a spherical housing, equipped with a drive system, biasing mechanism, and payload space, utilizing wireless communication and sensors for autonomous movement and user-controlled navigation through live video feed interaction, enabling the carriage of various payloads including cameras, sensors, and explosives.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If a spherical housing with drive system and biasing mechanism is used, then the device achieves autonomous self-propelled movement, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the drive system and biasing mechanism into a unified spherical housing structure, where the wheels are positioned inside the spherical envelope and the biasing mechanism integrates with the drive system to maintain wheel contact with the inner surface. This merging reduces the number of separate components and simplifies the overall structure while achieving autonomous movement.
Solution Approach 2:
The spherical housing serves multiple functions: it provides the structural envelope, contains the drive system, houses the biasing mechanism, and acts as the rolling element itself. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional components and simplifies the overall device complexity while maintaining autonomous movement capability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If wireless communication and sensors are added for autonomous movement and user control, then the device gains dynamic user interaction and real-time video feedback capabilities, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The controller device serves multiple functions: it receives wireless commands from the user, processes video feed from the camera, provides real-time feedback display, and controls the self-propelled device's movement. This multi-functionality consolidates control capabilities into a single device, reducing overall system complexity while enhancing user interaction.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements real-time feedback through the camera capturing video of the environment, transmitting it wirelessly to the controller device, and displaying it to the user. This feedback loop enables dynamic user interaction and real-time monitoring without requiring complex additional hardware, as it utilizes existing communication and display capabilities.
3Adaptability or versatility
If payload space is added to carry various payloads, then the device achieves versatility for different applications, but the weight of the moving object increases
Solution Approach 1:
The payload is separated from the core self-propelled device structure, allowing it to be attached or detached as needed. This segmentation enables the device to carry various payloads for different applications without permanently increasing its base weight, maintaining versatility while minimizing weight impact.
Solution Approach 2:
The payload is positioned within the spherical housing structure, utilizing the internal space efficiently. This nesting approach allows the payload to be carried without adding external components that would increase weight, as the payload fits within the existing spherical envelope space.
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.