UWB-Guided Robot Navigation Across Rooms and Obstacles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing robots face challenges in navigating to objects due to spatial limitations and are costly to implement, especially when obstacles like walls or varying lighting conditions affect vision-based object recognition.
Innovation Solution
A robot system utilizing a low-cost Ultra-Wideband (UWB) module and controlling method that determines spatial alignment with objects using UWB signals, adjusts travel direction and speed based on signal attenuation, and employs distance sensors and beacons to navigate around obstacles, allowing the robot to travel to objects without spatial limitations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If vision-based object recognition is used to enable the robot to travel to an object, then the robot can identify objects and navigate, but the system becomes costly and affected by lighting conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces vision-based object recognition with UWB (Ultra-Wideband) technology for object identification and localization. Instead of using cameras and complex image processing algorithms that are sensitive to lighting conditions, the system uses UWB signals to detect objects and determine their positions, thereby eliminating the harmful effects of varying illumination while reducing system cost and complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the detection parameter from optical (vision-based) to electromagnetic (UWB-based). By measuring signal attenuation of UWB waves instead of analyzing visual features, the system achieves reliable object recognition independent of lighting conditions, resolving the contradiction between reliability and system complexity
2Adaptability or versatility
If vision-based navigation is used to travel to objects, then the robot can locate objects, but it cannot navigate when obstacles like walls are present
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from two-dimensional visual field navigation to three-dimensional spatial navigation using UWB signal propagation characteristics. By utilizing signal attenuation information that penetrates through and around obstacles, the robot can navigate in three-dimensional space, passing through walls and navigating around obstacles that block vision-based systems
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces UWB signals as an intermediary for object detection and localization. These signals act as a mediator that can penetrate obstacles and provide spatial information even when direct line-of-sight is blocked, enabling the robot to navigate reliably in environments with walls and obstacles
3Adaptability or versatility
If the robot uses UWB signal attenuation to determine spatial location, then it can navigate without spatial limitations, but additional sensors and processing are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the UWB module perform multiple functions: object detection, localization, and navigation guidance. By using the same UWB signal reception and attenuation measurement for all these purposes, the system achieves versatile spatial navigation capability without proportionally increasing device complexity, as one component serves multiple functions
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables efficient and cost-effective navigation to objects regardless of spatial obstacles and lighting conditions, improving the robot's ability to reach targets with enhanced precision and reduced costs.
Implementation Method 1
identifying, based on an attenuation amount of the received first UWB signal being less than or equal to a first threshold value, that the robot is located in the same space as with the object
Data Source
AI summary
A robot includes a traveling part, a communication interface including a UWB module, a distance sensor, a memory, and a processor configured to receive, a first UWB signal from the object through a UWB module, identify, based on the received first UWB signal, whether it is located in a same space as with the object, based on identifying that the robot is located in the same space as with the object, control the robot travel to the object based on the received first UWB signal, and control, based on identifying that the robot is located in a space different from the object, control the traveling part to move the robot to the same space as with the object by using coordinate information of the robot and the object received from the beacon located in the same space as with the robot and a sensing value obtained from the distance sensor.