Autonomous Resource Delivery Controller for Shared Workspaces
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Solution Overview
Problem
In distributed workforces, shared workspaces face inefficiencies in managing and providing physical resources due to oversubscription, leading to complex storage and navigation challenges, as well as the need for manual retrieval of resources by users.
Innovation Solution
A system that uses a controller to monitor and manage physical resources in a shared workspace, deploying autonomous or self-propelled resources to specific workstations based on user identity and resource status, utilizing propulsion mechanisms like drones or motors to automatically deliver resources upon user arrival and request, and reassigning resources for storage and maintenance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If shared workspaces are used to accommodate distributed workforces, then workspace utilization efficiency is improved, but resource management complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables autonomous resource management where the workspace system automatically monitors user presence, assigns resources, and manages storage without manual intervention. The controller autonomously tracks user locations, determines resource needs, and coordinates resource deployment to appropriate workstations, eliminating the need for manual resource management while maintaining high workspace utilization efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors user presence and resource status through sensors and communication devices, creating a feedback loop that enables real-time resource allocation adjustments. This feedback mechanism allows the system to respond dynamically to changing workforce distributions, maintaining optimal resource utilization while managing complexity through automated responses
2Reliability
If physical resources are stored in shared workspaces, then resource availability is improved, but navigation and retrieval difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The controller acts as an intermediary between users and physical resources, managing the complexity of resource location and retrieval. It tracks user positions, determines optimal resource locations, and coordinates automated delivery systems to transport resources directly to users, eliminating the need for users to manually navigate and retrieve resources from storage locations
Solution Approach 2:
The system proactively identifies when resources need to be delivered to users based on predicted or actual user arrivals at workstations. Resources are positioned and made available in advance of user needs, eliminating the need for users to search for or retrieve resources after arriving at the workspace
3Device complexity
If manual resource retrieval is required, then system complexity is reduced, but user time consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by automatically positioning resources at appropriate workstations before users arrive or need them. The controller predicts resource needs based on user schedules and locations, and autonomously deploys resources in advance, eliminating the need for users to spend time retrieving resources after arriving at the workspace
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces manual mechanical resource retrieval operations with automated controlled transport mechanisms. Instead of users physically navigating to storage locations and retrieving resources, automated systems handle resource transport, significantly reducing user time consumption while managing system complexity through automation
Data Source
AI summary
Controlling resource management in a workspace includes, at a controller having connectivity to a network, monitoring one or more physical resources in a physical workspace having a plurality of work stations. An identity of one or more users present in or scheduled to be present in the physical workspace is determined. Status information is determined for each of the one or more physical resources in the physical workspace. Deployment of a particular resource of the one or more physical resources to a particular work station among the plurality of workstations is controlled based on the status information and the identity of the particular user.