Rich Crandall ha scritto 3 mesi fa
Lidar Robot Vacuums Can Navigate Under Couches and Other Furniture
Lidar-enabled robot vacuums can easily navigate under couches and other furniture. They minimize the risk of collisions, and provide precision and efficiency that aren’t offered by camera-based models.
These sensors run at lightning-fast speeds and determine the time required for laser beams to reflect off surfaces to create an outline of your space in real-time. But there are some limitations.
Light Detection And Ranging (Lidar Technology)
In simple terms, lidar functions by releasing laser beams to scan an area and then determining how long it takes the signals to bounce off objects before they return to the sensor. The data is then transformed into distance measurements, and a digital map can be created.
Lidar has many applications, ranging from bathymetric airborne surveys to self-driving vehicles. It is also used in archaeology and construction. Airborne laser scanning utilizes radar-like sensors to map the sea’s surface and create topographic models, while terrestrial (or “ground-based”) laser scanning involves using a camera or scanner mounted on tripods to scan the environment and objects from a fixed point.
One of the most popular uses of laser scanning is archaeology, as it is able to create extremely detailed 3D models of old structures, buildings and archaeological sites in a relatively short amount of time, when compared to other methods, such as photogrammetry or photographic triangulation. Lidar can also be employed to create high-resolution topographic maps. This is especially useful in areas with dense vegetation, where traditional mapping methods aren’t practical.
Robot vacuums equipped to use lidar technology can precisely determine the position and size of objects even if they are hidden. This lets them move efficiently over obstacles such as furniture and other obstructions. In the end, lidar-equipped robots are able clean rooms more quickly than ‘bump and run’ models and are less likely to become stuck in tight spaces.
This type of smart navigation is especially beneficial for homes that have several kinds of flooring because the robot is able to automatically alter its route in accordance with the flooring. If the robot is moving between unfinished flooring and carpeting that is thick, for lidar robot vacuums example, it can detect a transition and adjust its speed accordingly in order to avoid collisions. This feature can reduce the amount of time ‘babysitting’ the robot and allows you to focus on other tasks.
Mapping
Lidar robot vacuums can map their surroundings using the same technology as self-driving vehicles. This allows them to move more efficiently and lidar robot vacuums avoid obstacles, which leads to cleaner results.
The majority of robots employ a combination, including infrared, laser, and other sensors, to detect objects and build an environment map. This mapping process is known as localization and path planning. This map helps the robot to determine its position within the room and avoid hitting walls or furniture. The maps can also help the robot design efficient routes, thus reducing the amount of time it takes to clean and the number of times it needs to return back to its home base to charge.
Robots detect dust particles and small objects that other sensors may miss. They can also detect ledges and drops that are too close to the robot, preventing it from falling off and causing damage to your furniture. Lidar robot vacuums are also better at navigating difficult layouts, compared to budget models that rely on bump sensors.
Certain robotic vacuums, such as the EcoVACS DEEBOT have advanced mapping systems that can display the maps in their app so that users can know where the robot is located at any point. This allows them to personalize their cleaning using virtual boundaries and even set no-go zones to ensure that they clean the areas they are most interested in thoroughly.
The ECOVACS DEEBOT utilizes TrueMapping 2.0 and AIVI 3D technology to create an interactive real-time map of your home. With this map the ECOVACS DEEBOT will avoid obstacles in real-time and determine the most efficient route for each space, ensuring that no spot is missed. The ECOVACS DEEBOT is equipped to identify different types of flooring, and adjust its cleaning modes in accordance with the floor type. This makes it easy to keep your home free of clutter with minimal effort. The ECOVACS DEEBOT for instance, will automatically change from high-powered to low-powered suction when it encounters carpeting. In the ECOVACS App, you can also create boundaries and no-go zones to restrict the robot’s movements and prevent it from wandering around in areas that you do not want it to clean.
Obstacle Detection
The ability to map a space and detect obstacles is one of the main advantages of robots that utilize lidar technology. This helps robots better navigate through a space, reducing the time required to clean and increasing the effectiveness of the process.
LiDAR sensors make use of an emitted laser to measure the distance between objects. The robot can determine the distance from an object by calculating the time it takes the laser to bounce back. This lets robots navigate around objects, without crashing into or getting caught by them. This could cause damage or break the device.
Most lidar robots use a software algorithm to find the number of points that are most likely to describe an obstacle. The algorithms consider factors like the dimensions and shape of the sensor as well as the number of sensor points available, and the distance between the sensors. The algorithm also takes into account how close the sensor is an obstacle, since this can have a significant impact on its ability to accurately determine the precise set of points that describe the obstacle.
Once the algorithm has identified the points that describe an obstacle, it seeks out cluster contours that match the obstacle. The set of polygons that results will accurately reflect the obstruction. To create a complete description of the obstacle, each point must be linked to another within the same cluster.
Many robotic vacuums depend on the navigation system called SLAM (Self Localization and Mapping) in order to create a 3D map of their space. SLAM-enabled robot vacuums can move more efficiently and adhere more easily to edges and corners as opposed to their non-SLAM counterparts.
The ability to map lidar robot vacuums can be particularly beneficial when cleaning stairs and high surfaces. It can enable the robot to create the path to clean that eliminates unnecessary stair climbs and reduces the number of trips over an area, which saves energy and time while making sure that the area is properly cleaned. This feature can also assist the robot move between rooms and prevent the vacuum from bumping into furniture or other items in one area while trying to climb a wall in the next.
Path Planning
Robot vacuums can get stuck under large furniture pieces or over thresholds, such as those that are at the entrances to rooms. This can be a hassle for owners, especially when the robots must be rescued from the furniture and reset. To prevent this from happening, a variety different sensors and algorithms are used to ensure that the robot is aware of its surroundings and can navigate through them.
Some of the most important sensors are edge detection, cliff detection, and wall sensors for walls. Edge detection lets the robot detect when it is approaching a piece of furniture or a wall, so that it doesn’t accidentally crash into them and cause damage. Cliff detection is similar however it helps the robot to avoid falling off stairs or cliffs by warning it when it’s getting too close. The robot is able to navigate walls by using wall sensors. This helps it avoid furniture edges where debris tends build up.
When it comes to navigation the lidar vacuum mop-equipped robot will utilize the map it’s made of its surroundings to design an efficient route that covers every corner and nook it can get to. This is a significant improvement over earlier robots that would simply drive into obstacles until the job was completed.
If you have an area that is complex, it’s worth the extra expense to get a robot that has excellent navigation. The top robot vacuums utilize lidar to create a detailed map of your home. They can then intelligently determine their route and avoid obstacles, while covering your space in an organized way.
But, if you’re living in a simple space with few large pieces of furniture and a simple layout, it may not be worth paying extra for a high-tech robot that requires expensive navigation systems to navigate. Navigation is a key factor in determining the price. The more expensive your robotic vacuum, the more you will be paying. If you’re on a budget, you can find vacuums that are still excellent and can keep your home clean.