Autonomous Route Return Control After Travel Suspension

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Solution Overview

Problem

Autonomous traveling devices often fail to resume suspended autonomous traveling due to deviation from the original route, leading to incomplete task execution.

Innovation Solution

An information processing system that includes a route information storage unit to store suspension point information and an acquisition unit to acquire current position information, allowing the system to control the autonomous traveling body to return to the original route based on both current and suspension point information.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the autonomous traveling device switches to remote control mode and then back to autonomous traveling mode, then the device can handle unexpected factors and continue operation, but the device may be located at a position deviated from the original route and fail to resume autonomous traveling

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveAbility to handle unexpected factorsVSAvoidAbility to resume autonomous traveling
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system stores suspension point information (position, route ID, task information) before switching to remote control mode. When resuming autonomous traveling, the system retrieves this pre-stored information to automatically return to the correct suspension point on the original route, ensuring reliable resumption without deviation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system determines the current position and compares it with the stored suspension point information. Based on this feedback, the system automatically calculates the deviation and generates a return route to guide the device back to the suspension point, enabling accurate resumption of autonomous traveling

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If the autonomous traveling device returns to the original route after suspension, then the device can complete the interrupted task, but additional time and energy are required for the return journey

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveAbility to complete interrupted taskVSAvoidTime for return journey
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system pre-stores suspension point information including position coordinates, route ID, and task details before mode switching. This allows the system to immediately calculate the optimal return route upon resumption, minimizing the time required to return to the suspension point and complete the interrupted task

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically generates a return route based on the current position and stored suspension point information. The route is optimized to minimize travel time and energy consumption while ensuring accurate return to the suspension point, balancing the need for task completion with efficiency

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS20250164999A1Information processing system, autonomous traveling body, information processing apparatus, method for controlling autonomous traveling body and recording medium
Publication Date: 2025.05.22 RICOH CO LTD
  • US20250164999A1 patent drawing
  • US20250164999A1 patent drawing
  • US20250164999A1 patent drawing

AI summary

An information processing system controls an autonomous traveling body capable of autonomously traveling on a learned route. The information processing system includes a route information storage unit to store suspension point information indicating a suspension point at which the autonomous traveling body has suspended autonomous traveling on a particular learned route, and an acquisition unit to acquire current position information indicating a current position of the autonomous traveling body according to an instruction to resume the autonomous traveling, and controls the autonomous traveling body to return to the particular route, based on at least the current position information and the suspension point information.