Visual-Assist Robot with Retractable Imaging Pedestal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Blind or visually impaired individuals face difficulties in navigating their environment and understanding the presence and location of objects, obstacles, and signs without effective assistance.
Innovation Solution
A visual-assist robot equipped with a housing, imaging assembly, motorized wheel assembly, processor, and non-transitory memory device that autonomously navigates, captures image data, and provides message data to users about detected objects, using a retractable pedestal and wireless communication for enhanced functionality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If traditional aid devices like canes or guide dogs are used, then basic navigation assistance is provided, but comprehensive understanding of objects in the environment cannot be achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical aid devices (canes, guide dogs) with an automated robotic system equipped with imaging sensors, processors, and communication modules. The robot autonomously captures images, processes them to identify objects, and communicates findings to the user, substituting mechanical assistance with electronic and computational systems that provide comprehensive environmental information.
2Area of stationary object
If the imaging assembly is positioned higher above the base portion, then a broader view of the environment is captured, but the device height and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a retractable pedestal that can extend and retract to adjust the height of the imaging assembly dynamically. When the pedestal extends, the imaging assembly is positioned higher to capture a broader field of view; when retracted, the overall device height is reduced. This dynamic adjustment allows the system to optimize its field of view only when needed, avoiding the permanent complexity and size increase that would result from a fixed high-positioned imaging assembly.
3Ease of operation
If autonomous navigation capability is added to the robot, then the user can receive information about desired locations, but the device complexity and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates multiple functions into the robotic system: the imaging assembly serves both for capturing environmental images and for navigation; the processor handles both object identification and path planning; the communication module transmits both object information and navigation guidance. By making these components multi-functional, the patent reduces the need for separate dedicated systems, thereby managing complexity while providing comprehensive navigation assistance.
Data Source
AI summary
In one embodiment, a visual-assist robot includes a housing defining a base portion, an imaging assembly, a motorized wheel assembly positioned at the lower surface of the base portion, a processor disposed within the housing and communicatively coupled to the imaging assembly and the motorized wheel assembly, and a non-transitory memory device disposed within the housing. The imaging assembly generates image data corresponding to an environment, and at least a portion of the imaging assembly is configured to be disposed above the upper surface of the base portion. The non-transitory memory device stores machine-readable instructions that cause the processor to provide a drive signal to the motorized wheel assembly such that the motorized wheel assembly moves the visual-assist robot to a desired location within the environment, determine objects from the image data received from the imaging assembly, and transmit message data for receipt by a user.