User-Following Accompanying Unit With Real-Time Turn Response
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing assistive technologies for elderly care, such as accompanying robots, often fail to accurately and sensitively follow users in front, leading to interference with their path and inability to handle unpredictable movements, thus lacking in real-time responsiveness and adaptability.
Innovation Solution
An automatic accompanying system that includes a first pointing unit to detect user direction, a relative position sensing unit to determine the relationship with the user, and a control module to generate instructions for the accompanying unit to move and turn accordingly, using sensors like angular sensors and distance sensors for precise alignment and movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the accompanying system moves ahead of the user to provide real-time accompaniment, then the responsiveness and sensitivity to user movements is improved, but the risk of interfering with the user's path and blocking their way increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary sensing of user movement and turning actions before the user actually changes direction or position. The sensing unit detects user intentions in advance, allowing the accompanying unit to prepare for upcoming maneuvers, thus maintaining close proximity without blocking the user's path.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the relative position and distance between the accompanying unit and user based on real-time detected movements. When the user turns or changes direction, the system immediately responds by adjusting its position, maintaining optimal accompaniment distance while avoiding interference with the user's path.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the accompanying system follows behind the user, then the risk of interfering with the user's path is reduced, but the sensitivity and immediacy of responding to user movements deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously receives feedback from the sensing unit about user movements and turning actions. This real-time feedback loop allows the control unit to immediately adjust the accompanying unit's position and movement, maintaining high sensitivity to user actions while managing the distance to avoid path interference.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the system uses a mobile platform to accompany the user, then the adaptability to user movements is improved, but the complexity of the system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces complex mechanical following mechanisms with sensor-based detection and control. The sensing unit detects user movements, and the control unit processes this information to guide the mobile platform, substituting straightforward mechanical coupling with intelligent sensor-controlled adaptation, thereby managing complexity while maintaining adaptability.
4Ease of operation
If the system uses preset algorithms to control movement, then the ease of operation is improved, but the ability to handle unpredictable user movements and scenarios deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses dynamic, real-time sensing and control rather than static preset algorithms. The sensing unit continuously monitors user movements and turning actions, and the control unit adapts the accompanying unit's behavior in real-time based on detected user intentions, enabling the system to handle unpredictable movements while maintaining simple operation through automatic adaptation.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides an automatic accompanying system, comprising an user and a accompanying unit following the user, wherein the accompanying unit follows the user according to the user's movement and truning action. The automatic accompanying system comprises: a first pointing unit, a relative position sensing unit and a control module, wherein the first pointing unit detects a facing direction of the user. The accompanying unit collects an orientation signal of the user and a relative position signal for analyzing and generates an instruction signal to control itself to move and turn. Through the said accompanying system, the purposes of accompanying a user in multiple positions, like in the front, behind, by the side, above, increasing safety, reducing the risk of loss, and saving users from paying too much attention on operating the system can be achieved, and it facilitates user to carry out related applications.