Autonomous Route Planning Using Passerby Traffic Distribution

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing route setting systems for autonomous mobile robots require frequent avoidance actions due to the presence of multiple moving objects, leading to increased travel time and complex control requirements, especially in areas with high passerby density.

Innovation Solution

A route setting device and system that utilize map information storage, traffic frequency distribution identification, and route determination to minimize avoidance actions by predicting passerby traffic patterns and optimizing routes based on passerby quantity and frequency distributions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the robot performs avoidance actions for each moving object detected, then the robot can avoid contact with moving objects, but the travel time increases and the number of avoidance actions increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecollision avoidance capabilityVSAvoidtravel time to destination
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by predicting the positions and trajectories of moving objects in advance, and pre-planning avoidance routes before collision actually occurs. The route setting device calculates future positions of moving objects based on their current speed and direction, and determines avoidance routes in advance, allowing the robot to execute smooth avoidance maneuvers without sudden deceleration or frequent route recalculations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts the avoidance strategy based on the robot's state and environmental conditions. When the robot is stationary or moving slowly, more comprehensive detection and prediction is performed. When moving at high speed, the system prioritizes critical avoidance actions. The route setting is dynamically updated based on real-time position, speed, and detected moving objects, optimizing the balance between safety and travel efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If the robot reduces moving speed for avoidance actions, then the robot can safely avoid moving objects, but the time required to reach destination becomes longer

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesafe avoidance executionVSAvoidrobot traveling speed
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The system calculates and prepares avoidance routes in advance based on predicted positions of moving objects. By determining the optimal avoidance path before execution, the robot can maintain higher speeds during avoidance maneuvers rather than simply slowing down. The preliminary route calculation includes speed optimization, allowing the robot to execute efficient avoidance actions that minimize speed reduction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes multiple parameters simultaneously during avoidance actions, including route geometry, speed profile, and timing. Instead of merely reducing speed, the route setting device optimizes a combination of parameters: selecting alternative paths, adjusting speed curves along the route, and timing maneuvers to minimize impact on overall travel time. This multi-parameter optimization allows safer avoidance while preserving traveling speed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If the robot takes unscheduled routes for avoidance, then the robot can avoid moving objects, but the control complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecollision avoidanceVSAvoidcontrol complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The route setting device performs preliminary calculations to determine optimal avoidance routes before the robot encounters moving objects. By pre-calculating multiple potential avoidance paths and their characteristics, the system reduces real-time control complexity. When avoidance is needed, the robot can execute a pre-determined route rather than performing complex real-time path planning, simplifying the control logic while maintaining effective collision avoidance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses simplified models and representations of the environment and moving objects for route calculation. Instead of processing full complex sensor data in real-time, the route setting device uses copied or simplified representations: predicted positions based on current speed and direction, simplified obstacle models, and pre-defined route templates. This copying approach reduces computational complexity while maintaining sufficient accuracy for avoidance decisions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

4Reliability

If the robot performs frequent avoidance actions, then the robot can respond to each moving object, but the number of control operations increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresponsive avoidanceVSAvoidnumber of control operations
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system merges multiple avoidance considerations into a single integrated route planning process. Instead of performing separate detection, prediction, route calculation, and execution steps for each moving object independently, the route setting device combines all these functions into one comprehensive route setting operation. Multiple moving objects are processed simultaneously in a single control cycle, reducing the number of discrete control operations while maintaining responsive avoidance capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The route setting device serves multiple functions simultaneously: it detects moving objects, predicts their trajectories, determines avoidance necessity, calculates optimal avoidance routes, and generates control commands all in one unified process. This multi-functional approach eliminates the need for separate specialized modules for each function, reducing overall control complexity while maintaining comprehensive avoidance responsiveness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS12607474B2Route setting device and route setting system
Publication Date: 2026.04.21 HONDA MOTOR CO LTD
  • US12607474B2 patent drawing
  • US12607474B2 patent drawing
  • US12607474B2 patent drawing

AI summary

In order to reduce the number of avoidance actions, a route setting server includes map information storage device for storing map information in which the passerby quantity information indicating a passerby quantity is associated with a traveling path on which an autonomously traveling object travels autonomously, traffic frequency distribution identification device for identifying a passerby traffic frequency distribution in a predetermined area in which the traveling object travels autonomously, map information updating device for updating the passerby quantity information of the map information, based on the passerby traffic frequency distribution identified by the traffic frequency distribution identification device, and route determination device for determining a target route for the traveling object to travel based on the map information.