Telerobotic Controller Gateway for Smart Object Interaction
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional robots lack the ability to interact effectively with smart objects, which are electronic devices capable of sensing, interpreting, and reacting to environmental stimuli, limiting their functionality in everyday settings such as homes and commercial environments.
Innovation Solution
A telerobotic controller system that allows users to control robots using a user device with a display, enabling the robot to detect and interface with smart objects by establishing connections, exchanging API, and providing a user interface to program interactions, such as controlling smart devices like smart mugs, through presentation and functional components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional robots are used in everyday settings, then basic robotic functions are available, but the ability to interact effectively with smart objects is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a gateway as an intermediary component that mediates between conventional robots and smart objects. The gateway translates robot commands into smart object-specific protocols and vice versa, enabling interaction without directly modifying the robot's core architecture. This resolves the contradiction by providing adaptability through the gateway layer while keeping the robot itself relatively simple.
Solution Approach 2:
The gateway is designed with universal functionality to handle multiple types of smart objects through a standardized interface. It can translate to various smart object protocols (thermostats, lights, locks, etc.) without requiring separate specialized components for each device type, thus improving versatility while maintaining system simplicity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If robots are equipped with smart object interaction capabilities, then functionality in everyday settings is enhanced, but control complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where the gateway provides status information about smart objects back to the robot and user interface. This allows users to monitor and control smart objects through the robot in an intuitive manner, maintaining ease of operation despite enhanced functionality. The feedback loop enables users to see the state of connected devices and adjust control accordingly.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a gateway system is introduced to enable smart object interaction, then robot versatility is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the complexity of smart object communication into a separate gateway component, isolating it from the robot's core control system. This extraction allows the robot to remain simple while the gateway handles all protocol translation and communication complexity. The gateway can be added or removed without affecting the robot's fundamental operation.
Data Source
AI summary
Various systems and methods for controlling a robot are described herein.