Virtual Representations of Physical Agents for Cost-Effective Robotics
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Solution Overview
Problem
The high cost of dedicated hardware and firmware in robotic systems makes them unfeasible for consumer markets, as the cost of producing autonomous and intelligent robots is prohibitively expensive for commodity product markets.
Innovation Solution
Integrating mobile computing devices such as smartphones and tablets with robotic systems to reduce hardware requirements, leveraging their computational capacity and wireless connectivity to support robotic operations, allowing for a more cost-effective and intelligent robotic platform.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If dedicated hardware and firmware are used in robotic systems, then system reliability and autonomous capability are improved, but manufacturing cost increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a virtual copy of the physical robotic system in a digital environment. This virtual representation replicates the system's behavior, state, and interactions, allowing for simulation, testing, and control without requiring additional physical hardware. The virtual model serves as a digital twin that maintains reliability through software-based autonomy while reducing manufacturing costs by eliminating the need for expensive dedicated hardware in the physical system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical and hardware-based control systems with software and computational approaches. Instead of relying on dedicated firmware and specialized hardware components, the system uses general-purpose computing devices running virtualized environments to provide autonomous capabilities. This substitution dramatically reduces manufacturing costs while maintaining system reliability through software-based control and monitoring.
2Extent of automation
If dedicated hardware is used for autonomous control, then control precision and response time are improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs general-purpose computing devices that can serve multiple functions: they act as both the physical control system and the virtual environment host. These universal devices replace specialized autonomous control hardware, reducing device complexity while maintaining autonomous control capabilities through software. The same hardware platform supports both the physical robot operations and the virtual simulation environment.
Solution Approach 2:
The virtual representation creates a digital copy of the autonomous control system, allowing control logic to be implemented and tested in software rather than hardwired in specialized hardware. This copying approach maintains precise control and fast response times while eliminating the need for complex dedicated control hardware, thereby reducing overall device complexity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If virtual representations are implemented, then system flexibility and adaptability are improved, but computational requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the virtual environment and physical system control into a unified computational platform. By combining the virtual representation and control functions into existing mobile computing devices, the system achieves high adaptability without adding separate computational infrastructure. The mobile devices already present in the system are leveraged to host the virtual environment, minimizing additional energy consumption while maximizing system flexibility and adaptability.
Data Source
AI summary
A robotic system is integrated with one or more mobile computing devices. Physical configurations of individual components of the system in physical space, or agents, under control of a user or users, are duplicated in a representation in virtual space. Some degree of real-time parity is maintained between the physical and virtual spaces, so as to implement a virtual environment that mirrors the physical one. Events occurring within one environment can directly influence and bear consequence on the course of events occurring within the other environment. Elements of virtual space thereby become truly interdependent and unified on a peer footing with elements in physical space. In at least one embodiment, the system is implemented as an application in entertainment, such as the manifestation of a video game in physical space.