Telepresence Robot Multi-User Control and Sensor Sharing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current telepresence robots do not allow for multi-user control or simultaneous operation by multiple remote operators, limiting their functionality in collaborative environments.
Innovation Solution
A method for transmitting authorization and images from a first user device to one or more other user devices, enabling them to control a mobile robot device, with features for joint control operations and selective data transmission from various sensors, allowing multiple users to 'ride along' and contribute to the robot's movement and data collection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a single remote operator controls the telepresence robot, then the control system is simple and reliable, but the robot cannot accept commands from multiple operators or allow control transfer
Solution Approach 1:
The control system is designed to serve multiple user devices simultaneously, allowing any authorized device to become the controlling operator. The robot can receive control commands from multiple sources and transfer control between users dynamically, making the system universal rather than dedicated to a single operator.
Solution Approach 2:
The operator role is made dynamic rather than static. The system allows real-time transfer of control authority between different user devices through automated or manual handoff mechanisms. The set of authorized operators can change during operation, enabling flexible adaptation to different operational needs.
2Adaptability or versatility
If visual information is transmitted from the robot to a single remote operator, then the data transmission is simple, but the operator cannot share the robot's sensory data with other users
Solution Approach 1:
The sensory data stream is segmented and distributed to multiple user devices simultaneously. Each authorized user receives relevant visual and sensor information from the robot, allowing parallel access to the robot's sensory capabilities without requiring a single centralized viewing point.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple data transmission channels are merged into a unified multi-cast system. The robot transmits sensory data to multiple user devices concurrently through network infrastructure, combining the functionality of serving multiple operators while maintaining efficient data distribution.
3Productivity
If the robot accepts control operations from multiple user devices, then collaborative control is enabled, but control authority and coordination become complex
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where the current controlling operator's identity and status are communicated to all authorized users. When one user is actively controlling the robot, this information is fed back to other users, who can then initiate control transfer requests or understand the current control state, coordinating their actions accordingly.
Solution Approach 2:
The robot controller acts as an intermediary between multiple user devices. It receives control commands from any authorized user, manages the control authority state, and executes commands while maintaining system coherence. The intermediary coordinates inputs from multiple sources and produces unified robot actions.
Data Source
AI summary
Implementations of the disclosed subject matter provide methods of transmitting, from a first user device, an authorization to one or more other user devices to receive one or more images captured by a first sensor of a mobile robot device, where the first user device controls the mobile robot device. The first user device may receive acknowledgement from the one or more other user devices to receive the one or more images captured by the first sensor of the mobile robot device. The mobile robot device may transmit, to the first user device and the one or more other user devices based on the acknowledgement, the one or more first images captured by the first sensor of the mobile robot as the mobile robot device moves within the area based on at least one first control operation received from the first user device.