Story Machine Autonomous Path Following and Audio Triggering

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Solution Overview

Problem

Story machines with point-reading functions require manual assistance to trigger audio, limiting their vividness and interactive potential for children's learning experiences.

Innovation Solution

A story machine equipped with a bearing portion, roller, and driving structure that can move automatically along a detected path and play multimedia information without manual intervention, using two-dimensional codes or wireless signal positioning points to guide its movement and playback.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Extent of automation

If a story machine uses a point-reading function to send out audio by clicking on different areas, then it can provide interactive storytelling, but it requires manual assistance to trigger audio which reduces vividness

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveautomatic movement and playbackVSAvoidmanual assistance requirement
Core Design Contradiction:
Extent of automationVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The story machine automatically moves along a path and triggers audio playback without requiring manual operation. The device reads two-dimensional codes autonomously, moves itself via a driving structure, and plays multimedia information automatically, making the system serve itself rather than requiring user intervention for each interaction step.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The story machine is pre-configured with a movement path and automatically executes it. The two-dimensional codes are pre-placed at specific locations along the path, and the machine automatically follows the path and triggers playback in advance without waiting for manual cues, creating a seamless automated experience.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Extent of automation

If a story machine moves automatically along a detected path, then it enhances vividness and interactivity, but it increases device complexity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveautomatic movement along pathVSAvoidstructure with bearing portion, roller, and driving structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Extent of automationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The story machine is divided into distinct functional modules: a bearing portion for mounting circuitry, a roller for movement, and a driving structure for propulsion. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently and simplifies the overall design by assigning specific functions to separate modules rather than integrating them into a complex unified structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Shape

If a story machine uses invisible two-dimensional codes, then it maintains aesthetic appearance, but it increases difficulty of detection

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaesthetic appearance without visible codesVSAvoiddetection of invisible codes
Core Design Contradiction:
ShapeVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The detection system replaces visual recognition of visible codes with an automated detection mechanism that can read invisible two-dimensional codes. The story machine's detection component automatically scans and reads the invisible codes as it moves along the path, eliminating the need for visible markers while maintaining detection accuracy through automated optical or electromagnetic detection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentEP3493207B1Story machine, control method and control device therefor, storage medium and story machine player system
Publication Date: 2024.10.16 BEIJING XIAOMI MOBILE SOFTWARE CO LTD
  • EP3493207B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3493207B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3B
  • EP3493207B1 patent drawingFigure 4A~4B

AI summary

The invention relates to a story machine, a control method and control device thereof, a storage medium and a story machine player system are provided. The story machine (10) includes a control component (11), a movement component (12), a detection component (13) and a multimedia component (14); the detection component (13) is configured to detect movement indication information for indicating a first movement path of the story machine; the control component (11) is configured to control the movement component (12) to move along the first movement path based on the detected movement indication information; the detection component (13) is further configured to detect play indication information for indicating multimedia information; the control component (11) is further configured to control the story machine to stop moving in response to detecting the play indication information; and the multimedia component (14) is configured to play the multimedia information based on the detected play indication information..