Tele-Operated Robot Navigation Using UAV Obstacle Mapping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current tele-operated robots are not effectively utilized for outdoor property maintenance tasks due to challenges in navigating complex environments and efficiently managing labor hours, as they often require human oversight for unforeseen situations and lack confidence in decision-making capabilities.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a tele-operated robot system that uses an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to obtain aerial images, allowing a control center with a processor to classify areas for autonomous navigation and schedule operations to minimize labor hours, while also enabling obstacle avoidance by estimating alternate paths using UAV-provided data and sensor information.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If tele-operated robots are used for outdoor property maintenance, then automation capability is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to inability to handle unforeseen situations
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the property into autonomously navigable areas and non-navigable areas based on aerial images. The robot autonomously operates in navigable areas while human operators remotely control it in non-navigable areas, dividing the operational domains to match the robot's capabilities and limitations.
Solution Approach 2:
A control center acts as an intermediary between the autonomous robot system and human operators. The control center receives data from the robot's sensors and aerial images, processes this information, and makes decisions about when to switch between autonomous and remote operation modes, bridging the gap between automation and human judgment.
2Reliability
If human operators monitor and control tele-operated robots for unforeseen situations, then reliability is improved, but labor hours increase
Solution Approach 1:
Human operators provide partial supervision rather than continuous control. The system uses autonomous operation with human oversight only when needed (such as when obstacles are detected or when transitioning between area types), reducing labor hours while maintaining reliability for critical decisions.
Solution Approach 2:
The robot performs self-navigation and self-operation in autonomously navigable areas without human intervention. The system serves itself by autonomously completing maintenance tasks in suitable areas, reducing the need for human labor while maintaining overall system reliability through selective human oversight.
3Productivity
If tele-operated robots autonomously navigate property, then productivity is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to obstacle detection limitations
Solution Approach 1:
Aerial images are obtained before the robot begins navigation to pre-identify navigable and non-navigable areas. This preliminary action allows the system to plan routes in advance and switch to remote operation before the robot encounters obstacles, maintaining both productivity and reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The robot continuously monitors its environment using onboard sensors during operation. When obstacles are detected, this feedback triggers a switch from autonomous to remote operation mode, allowing the system to maintain high productivity during normal operation while ensuring reliability when unexpected obstacles appear.
Data Source
AI summary
A method to enable autonomous and tele-operation of tele-operated robots for maintenance of a property around known and unknown obstacles may include using an unmanned aerial vehicle for obtaining additional data relating to the property and obstacles within the property and plan a path around the obstacles using data from sensors on-board the tele-operated robot and the aerial image. A method may also provide optimization of total time needed for performing the property maintenance and the labor costs in situations where manual intervention is needed for navigating the tele-operated robot around obstacles on the property or for removing obstacles on the property. Embodiments further include systems and devices practicing the method.