Manufacturing Survey Robot Assignment by Traversability Communities
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing survey systems for manufacturing environments face challenges such as outdated data, high costs, and reduced accuracy due to manual data collection and the limitations of traditional wheeled robots in navigating complex facilities, leading to delayed updates and inhibited data accuracy.
Innovation Solution
A survey system comprising a controller that segments data capture points into communities based on traversability scores, assigning robots with different mobility characteristics, such as wheeled, legged, and aerial vehicles, to efficiently traverse and survey areas, optimizing routes using algorithms like the traveling salesman problem and knapsack optimization routines.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If manual data collection with tripods and laser scanners is used, then data capture accuracy is maintained, but survey time and costs increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical data collection systems (tripods, laser scanners operated by humans) with an autonomous robotic system that uses sensors, processors, and automated navigation to capture and process environmental data, thereby reducing survey time while maintaining accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The robotic survey system performs self-navigation, self-data-capture, and self-processing of environmental data without requiring continuous human intervention, allowing autonomous operation that reduces both survey time and operational costs while maintaining measurement precision
2Extent of automation
If traditional wheeled robots are used for data collection, then automation is achieved, but ability to traverse complex facility environments is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent describes a robotic system that can adapt to different terrain types and facility environments by selecting from multiple mobility mechanisms, making the system universally applicable across diverse environments while maintaining automation for data collection
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically selects the appropriate mobility mechanism (wheeled, legged, or aerial) based on real-time assessment of environmental conditions and traversability, allowing the robot to adapt its motion characteristics to match the requirements of different facility areas
3Device complexity
If a single robot type is used for surveying, then system complexity is reduced, but survey efficiency and coverage are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the surveying task into segments handled by different specialized robot types (wheeled robots for accessible areas, legged robots for rough terrain, aerial vehicles for hard-to-reach areas), with a coordinator managing the division of labor, thereby improving overall survey efficiency while keeping individual robot systems relatively simple
Data Source
AI summary
A survey system includes a controller storing a map comprising a plurality of nodes representing data capture points of the environment. The controller is configured to segment the plurality of nodes into a plurality of communities, where each community from among the plurality of communities includes a set of nodes from among the plurality of nodes. The controller is configured to generate, for each community from among the plurality of communities, one or more traversability scores. The controller is configured to assign, for each community from among the plurality of communities, at least one robot from among a plurality of robots to survey the community based on the one or more traversability scores. The controller is configured to deploy, for each community from among the plurality of communities, at least one of the plurality of robots based on the plurality of robots assigned to the community.