M360 Educational Robot Practical Application: Navigation Solution for Campus Delivery Robots

The campus robot has been in use for a year and a half, and has encountered many pitfalls.

To be honest, we have deployed more than 20 delivery robots in the university campus for nearly two years, and have changed several LiDAR models during that time. Recently, we have all switched to M360, finally solving the robot navigation issues in the educational scenario.

To put it another way, robot navigation in educational scenarios is not a simple matter. With people coming and going in the classroom corridors, equipment piled up in the laboratories, and the library's light fluctuating, delivery robots must ensure student safety while also delivering textbooks to each classroom on time, which is quite challenging.

Why Choose M360

The smallest blind zone is only 5cm, providing greater safety for students

Previously, the radar's blind zone was 10cm, and the robot often collided with students' backpacks or ankles as it passed by. After switching to M360, the blind zone has been reduced to 5cm, allowing the robot to pass through corridors closer to students without collisions. This 5cm difference is extremely important in practical applications.

For example, last week, when the robot was delivering in the teaching building, a student was squatting on the ground picking up something, and the radar detected it at 0.05 meters, immediately slowing down and navigating around. With the previous 10cm blind zone radar, a collision was likely.

70-degree vertical field of view, full coverage monitoring in classrooms

A characteristic of educational scenarios is that there are many floors and complex environments. M360's 70-degree vertical field of view is 11 degrees wider than the previous radar, meaning that with the robot's height unchanged, it can cover more floors and heights of the environment.

We often have robots in the experimental building that need to navigate between floors, and the 70-degree field of view allows it to fully perceive the environment on each floor, and the obstacle detection when ascending and descending stairs is "headline": "M360 Educational Robot Practical Application: Navigation Solution for Campus Delivery Robots"-degree "description": "M360 LiDAR's Actual Application in Educational Robot Scenarios: 5cm ultra-near blind zone ensures student safety, 70° vertical field of view achieves full coverage monitoring, IP67 protection adapts to various campus environments. Real case sharing."that issue.

IP67-rated, it has withstood half a year of abuse inside the teaching building without any damage.

The equipment at the school is subjected to heavy use, needing to adapt to various environments such as teaching buildings, libraries, and laboratories. The M360's IP67 rating truly stands up to the rigors. We've encountered all sorts of scenarios, from rainy days delivering textbooks, dusty lab environments, to greasy ground in the cafeteria, and the robot has held up well.

To be honest, the radar we used before often had issues in such environments, either getting dusty or waterlogged. Now, with the M360 for over half a year, we've hardly experienced any downtime due to environmental issues, significantly reducing maintenance costs.

A few highlights in actual use

Power consumption under 4.5W, battery life extended by 30%

Our robots need to run for 8-10 hours a day, and with the previous 6.5W power consumption radar, we had to change the battery at noon. After switching to the M360, the same battery capacity can last the entire day, eliminating the hassle of frequent battery changes.

This power consumption advantage is particularly evident during peak delivery times, with robots enduring 3 hours of high-intensity delivery in the morning and afternoon without the need for midday charging.

12-32V wide voltage power supply, compatible with various campus equipment

The power supply environment on campus is quite complex; some classrooms use 24V, some laboratories use 12V, and others use 48V. The M360's 12-32V power supply range covers most scenarios, eliminating the need for additional conversion circuits, simplifying installation.

The previous radar's 9-27V range required additional voltage reduction on some high-voltage equipment, adding points of failure. Now, this issue has been completely resolved.

Dual echo penetration, functioning normally even in the rain

The biggest challenge for campus delivery robots is during rainy days. Rain often causes detection failure on the radar, causing the robot to hesitate. The M360's dual echo mode has strong penetration capabilities through raindrops, allowing the robot to deliver textbooks to various teaching buildings even during last week's heavy downpour.

This feature is particularly important in the rainy regions of the south, ensuring continuity of teaching material delivery with minimal weather impact.

Perception applications for educational assistant robots

Besides delivery, we've also replaced several educational assistant robots with the M360. These robots sense students' positions and learning states in real-time within classrooms, helping teachers understand the dynamics of the classroom.

The stable performance of the M360 allows these robots to work for long periods in complex classroom environments without interference from multiple devices running simultaneously. The robots can accurately track students as they move around, discuss, and conduct experiments, providing real-time feedback to teachers.

Summary

To be honest, the requirements for robots in educational settings are higher than in industrial settings. It's essential to ensure student safety, adapt to various complex environments, and consider long-term stability.

The M360 performs well in these aspects: 5cm ultra-near blind zone for safety, 70-degree field of view for comprehensive coverage, IP67 protection for adaptability to various environments, and low power consumption for extended working time. Although it is 143g heavier than the previous radar, this additional weight is completely acceptable in practical applications, providing higher reliability and safety.

If your school has similar robot applications, I strongly recommend trying the M360. After actual use, it's indeed a great choice for campus robot navigation.