Virtual Replica Navigation for Low-Load Autonomous Robots
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current autonomous mobile robots face challenges in navigating complex environments with numerous obstacles and require significant human intervention and processor-heavy sensor processing for path determination.
Innovation Solution
A system utilizing a virtual world system with spatially defined virtual objects and a navigation engine to compute navigation routes based on three-dimensional coordinates, enabling autonomous navigation by referencing a virtual replica of the physical environment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If sensors and real-time SLAM maps are used to locate obstacles and compute paths, then navigation safety is improved, but processor load and computational complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-generates a virtual replica of the physical environment including navigable structures and obstacles before the robot arrives. This preliminary preparation allows the robot to reference pre-computed spatial data rather than performing real-time SLAM and path planning, significantly reducing onboard processor load while maintaining navigation safety through accurate pre-modeled environmental data
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates a virtual copy (virtual replica) of the physical environment that contains all necessary navigation information. Instead of processing raw sensor data in real-time, the robot references this pre-created virtual model, which already encodes obstacle locations and navigable paths, thereby reducing computational complexity while preserving navigation reliability
2Reliability
If human operators are involved to ensure smoother displacement, then navigation reliability is improved, but operational efficiency and autonomy decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables the robot to autonomously navigate by referencing the virtual replica and computing its own path without requiring human operators. The virtual environment model provides all necessary navigation guidance, allowing the robot to self-determine safe paths through complex structures independently, thereby improving both autonomy and operational efficiency while maintaining navigation reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses sensor data from the robot to update and refine the virtual replica in real-time, creating a feedback loop that improves navigation accuracy. This continuous refinement allows the autonomous system to adapt to actual environmental conditions, ensuring smooth and reliable navigation without human intervention
3Adaptability or versatility
If real-time sensor processing and SLAM map generation are performed onboard, then adaptive navigation is improved, but computational resources and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs the computationally intensive task of creating the virtual replica beforehand, before the robot arrives at the environment. This preliminary action transfers the energy-consuming processing to a separate system or time, allowing the robot to use minimal energy onboard by simply referencing the pre-computed virtual model during navigation
Solution Approach 2:
By creating a virtual copy of the environment, the system avoids the need for the robot to perform energy-intensive real-time SLAM and obstacle detection. The robot references the pre-created virtual model, dramatically reducing onboard energy consumption while maintaining adaptive navigation capabilities through selective updates based on sensor feedback
Data Source
AI summary
A system, method, autonomous mobile robot, and computer readable media enabling location-based autonomous navigation using a virtual world system. The system comprises at least one server computing device having at least one processor and a memory. The memory stores a virtual world system and computer-readable instructions. The virtual world system comprises at least one virtual object being spatially defined by virtual three-dimensional coordinates that correspond to three-dimensional coordinates of a corresponding physical object in a physical environment. The instructions cause the at least one server computing device to provide a navigation engine configured to compute a navigation route of at least one autonomous mobile robot using at least the virtual three-dimensional coordinates of the at least one virtual object, enabling the at least one autonomous mobile robot to autonomously navigate the physical environment by reference to a virtual replica of the physical environment comprised in the virtual world system.