Systems and methods to control an autonomous mobile robot
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems for controlling autonomous mobile robots in home environments require manual interaction or visual attention, limiting user convenience and efficiency, especially for tasks like navigation and operation management.
Innovation Solution
Establishing wireless communication between autonomous mobile robots and audio media devices allows for voice-controlled operations and status notifications, enabling hands-free control and remote monitoring without diverting visual attention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual input devices (buttons, touchscreens) are used to control autonomous mobile robots, then the user can directly control robot operations, but the user requires visual attention and manual interaction which reduces convenience and efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical input devices (buttons, touchscreens) with voice-based acoustic control. Users speak commands to the audio media device, which transmits them wirelessly to the robot controller, eliminating the need for manual interaction and visual attention while maintaining direct control capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The audio media device serves as an intermediary between the user and the autonomous mobile robot. It receives acoustic signals from the user, processes them, and transmits control signals to the robot controller, enabling hands-free operation and reducing the time users need to spend on manual control tasks.
2Ease of operation
If audio media devices are used for voice control, then hands-free operation is enabled, but the system complexity increases due to wireless communication and audio processing requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The audio media device is utilized for multiple functions: it serves as both an audio playback device for the user and as a control interface for the autonomous robot. By leveraging existing audio processing capabilities of the media device, the system avoids adding dedicated control hardware, thus managing complexity while enabling hands-free operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The control functionality is merged with the existing audio media device rather than being implemented as a separate system. The wireless communication module in the media device is repurposed to transmit control commands, combining audio processing and robot control functions into a single integrated system.
3Ease of operation
If status notifications are emitted through audio media device, then remote monitoring is enabled without visual attention, but the loss of information occurs when users cannot see robot status directly
Solution Approach 1:
Visual status indicators on the robot are replaced with acoustic notifications emitted by the audio media device. The robot controller transmits status information wirelessly to the media device, which converts it into audible signals, allowing users to monitor robot operations remotely without needing visual contact with the robot.
Solution Approach 2:
The status information is segmented into distinct audible notifications for different robot states (e.g., cleaning status, battery level, error conditions). This segmentation allows users to receive specific, relevant information through audio without being overwhelmed, compensating for the lack of visual feedback.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for controlling one or more operations of an autonomous mobile robot maneuverable within a home includes establishing wireless communication between an autonomous mobile robot and a remote computing system and, in response to receiving a wireless command signal from the remote computing system, initiating one or more operations of the autonomous mobile robot. The autonomous mobile robot is remote from an audio media device stationed within the home. The audio media device is capable of receiving and emitting audio. The remote computing system is configured to associate identification data of the autonomous mobile robot with identification data of the audio media device. The wireless command signal corresponds to an audible user command received by the audio media device.