Vision-Guided Tool Positioning for Precise Surface Path Tracking
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for guiding tools on materials are often cumbersome, requiring manual alignment and mechanical guides that limit movement and are difficult to set up, especially for complex paths.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a rig or frame with a stage that can be positioned on a material, equipped with sensors and cameras to determine the tool's position and adjust it to precise coordinates, allowing for automatic correction and precise movement along a design path.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If visual guides are drawn on material using measuring devices, then the user can follow the guides, but it is difficult for the user to follow manually with low precision
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical guidance with an automated optical system. A camera captures images of the material surface and design features, while a processor automatically calculates and determines the tool's position and orientation, eliminating the need for manual measurement and visual following by the user.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates a digital copy of the material surface and design features through camera imaging. This optical copy is then processed computationally to determine precise tool positioning, replacing the need for direct manual interaction with physical measurement devices.
2Manufacturing precision
If hand tools are used to facilitate guiding, then movement in certain directions can be minimized, but the tools still require manual operation with limited precision
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical guiding systems with a computational vision system. Instead of using mechanical devices to constrain and guide tool movement, the system uses camera imaging and processor-based calculations to determine precise tool positioning, reducing mechanical complexity while improving precision.
3Ease of operation
If mechanical guides such as railings or fences are put in place, then user guidance is improved, but setup time increases and complex paths are not supported
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces physical mechanical guides like railings and fences with a digital imaging and computational system. The camera and processor can instantly adapt to any path complexity without requiring physical setup, eliminating the time-consuming installation of mechanical guidance structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The system is dynamically adaptable to different path complexities through software processing rather than requiring different physical guide structures. The computational system can handle simple or complex paths by processing the captured images and calculating appropriate tool positions, providing flexibility without additional setup.
4Manufacturing precision
If mechanical guides are used to assist user guiding, then movement control is improved, but the guides limit tool movement and require time to set up
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces constraint-based mechanical guides with a vision-based computational system. Instead of physically limiting tool movement through railings or fences, the system captures images, processes the data computationally, and determines precise tool positions, allowing free tool movement while maintaining precision control.
Solution Approach 2:
The imaging and processing system serves multiple functions: it guides simple linear paths, handles complex curved paths, and adapts to different material surfaces without requiring different physical guide structures. This universal computational approach replaces multiple specialized mechanical guide systems.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods of the present disclosure relate generally to facilitate performing a task on a surface such as woodworking or printing. More specifically, in some embodiments, the present disclosure relates to mapping the surface of the material and determining the precise location of a tool in reference to the surface of a material. Some embodiments relate to obtaining and relating a design with the map of the material or displaying the current position of the tool on a display device. In some embodiments, the present disclosure facilitates adjusting, moving or auto-correcting the tool along a predetermined path such as, e.g., a cutting or drawing path. In some embodiments, the reference location may correspond to a design or plan obtained from obtained via an online design store.