I’m looking for a solution to detect the presence of a roof or not above my mobile robot in a fast and reliable way. It must be robust against all potential weather conditions and not trigger when driving on narrow but open roof alleys. Radar caught my attention but I see many different options. Any considerations for the fact the robot drives around and measures perpendicular to the driving direction?
1 Like
Hi @dvt and welcome to our forum!
Detecting the presence of a roof above a mobile robot under varying conditions is indeed a challenging task. Here are a few considerations and options you might explore:
- Radar Sensors: These are robust against weather conditions like rain and fog. You’ll need a radar system that can provide high-resolution data to discern between narrow openings and actual roofs. Considerations include:
- Beam Angle: Ensure the radar’s beam pattern can cover the area above the robot and is sensitive enough despite the perpendicular measurement requirement.
- Range and Sensitivity: Test the radar’s range and sensitivity to ensure it can differentiate between an open sky and a covered roof.
- LiDAR: Useful for high precision and creating a 3D model of the surroundings, but it can be expensive and less effective in heavy rain or snow.
- Ultrasonic Sensors: These are less affected by weather conditions but have a limited range and precision, which might not be sufficient for high-speed applications.
- Camera-based Systems with Computer Vision: These systems using deep learning models can be quite effective but might struggle in low-light or harsh weather conditions.
- Fusion of Multiple Sensors: Consider using a combination of different sensors, such as radar and vision systems, to improve reliability and accuracy.
Since the robot measures perpendicular to the driving direction, you must ensure your sensing solution has a broad enough field of view and covers all potential angles.
Do you know what would be the average distance between the sensor and measuring object?