Dec 20, 2024 By Lily
Recently, Tesla unveiled its self-driving Robotaxi, capturing the attention of tech enthusiasts and the general public alike. This groundbreaking development showcases how advanced obstacle avoidance technology is becoming a cornerstone in the evolution of autonomous vehicles. Tesla isn’t alone in this mission; companies like DJI have integrated similar technologies into their drones, which expertly navigate through intricate environments. Even robot vacuums are now equipped with sophisticated sensors enabling them to maneuver around furniture and other household obstacles.
As these smart devices become increasingly prevalent in our daily lives, one question comes to mind: Do you really understand this technology? How does it make robots smarter and more capable of navigating the world around them?
Path planning creates the shortest path from the source to the destination based on sensory information obtained from the environment. Within path planning, obstacle avoidance is a crucial task in robotics, as the autonomous operation of robots needs to reach their destination without collisions.
On the one hand, Robotic lawn mowers equipped with obstacle avoidance technology offer several great benefits. First and foremost, they make mowing safer by preventing the mower from hitting objects or animals in the yard, which protects both the machine and your furry friends. They also boost efficiency, saving you time by navigating around obstacles smoothly and getting the job done quicker. Plus, with less wear and tear, these mowers tend to last longer and require less maintenance, which is always a bonus. Ultimately, this technology enhances the overall experience for users, giving you the peace of mind to let your mower do its job without constant worry.
On the other hand, without obstacle avoidance technology, a robotic mower could run into various objects like garden furniture, trees, or ornaments. It might also get stuck or trapped in corners or between objects. Additionally, there’s the risk of inadvertently harming animals such as hedgehogs, cats, or dogs that might be in the yard while it’s mowing, which can be particularly concerning for animal lovers.
Over the decades, obstacle avoidance technology has evolved from simple collision detection systems to complex predictive methods and machine learning. This advancement has significantly enhanced the capability of robots path planning. So, how does the obstacle avoidance technology work?
Obstacle avoidance, is a critical aspect of autonomous navigation and control systems. It is the capability of a robot or an autonomous system/machine to detect and circumvent obstacles in its path to reach a predefined destination. It enables robots to operate safely and efficiently in dynamic and complex environments, reducing the risk of collisions and damage.
The robot typically follows the shortest, straight-line path from the start to the destination until encountering an obstacle. Upon detection, it deviates from this path while updating essential details like the new distance to the target and the point of obstacle bypass. Typically, it follows the procedure as depicted in the image below.
For a robot or autonomous system to navigate obstacles successfully, it must use sensors like ultrasonic, LiDAR, radar, sonar, and cameras to detect obstacles. This allows the robot to process its environment, decide how to avoid obstacles, and execute that decision using its effectors, or tools for interacting with its surroundings. In short, using sensors, these robots follow three steps while moving: sensing, thinking, and acting. This combination of capabilities is what makes them operate intelligently and effectively.
From above, we've learned that lawn mowers utilize different types of sensors to detect obstacles. In our exploration of RTK positioning technology, we noted that the most suitable robotic mower positioning technology is actually the combination of RTK and VSLAM. Similarly, this visual technology is also applicable for obstacle avoidance.
For example, DJI drones employ various obstacle avoidance technologies, each with its own strengths. However, compared to visual obstacle avoidance, other methods may have limitations—some rely on reflective surfaces, while others can only measure distance in specific directions. Moreover, advances in laser technology have made it prohibitively expensive for ordinary consumer drones. As a result, visual obstacle avoidance, with its cost-effectiveness, simple principles, broad applicability, and promising future, stands out as the ideal choice.
Likewise, the Navimow i series of robotic lawn mowers features the monocular AI obstacle avoidance system, called VisionFence. This system allows Navimow to easily identify non-grass areas and navigate precisely around common obstacles, enhancing the mowing experience. Plus, its 140° field-of-view camera can detect over 150 types of obstacles and recognize pets and wildlife with its Animal Friendly Mode. It can pick up on cats, dogs, and hedgehogs up to five meters away and instantly recalculates its path to maintain a one-meter buffer. This means you can enjoy efficient mowing while keeping your lawn and local critters safe.
Obstacle avoidance algorithms play a key role in robotics, including the robot lawn mowers. These algorithms enable robots to navigate their environment efficiently, minimizing the risk of collisions and safely avoiding obstacles. Right now, robotic lawn mowers largely depend on visual algorithms for obstacle detection. This means they can accurately identify and respond to obstacles, making it a great option for protecting both the mower and any animals in the yard. By using these visual techniques, the robotic lawn mowers ensure a smoothlawn mowing experience while keeping your lawn and local wildlife safe.
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