Conveyance Robot Control for Secure Mid-Route Pickup
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conveyance robots are limited in allowing recipients to collect objects only at the destination, leading to delays as they move at a slower speed for safety, preventing early collection even if the recipient is nearby.
Innovation Solution
A conveyance control system that enables recipients to collect objects mid-transit by receiving instructions, transmitting location and route information, and allowing the robot to wait at designated points for secure collection, avoiding elevators and obstacles, and issuing temporary electronic keys for secure access.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the conveyance robot moves at a relatively low speed for safety, then safety is improved, but the time required for conveyance increases and the recipient has to wait longer at the destination
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the conveyance process by allowing intermediate collection points along the route. The conveyance object can be collected at multiple locations (destination or intermediate points) rather than requiring completion of the full conveyance journey, thus dividing the waiting time into potentially shorter segments.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by notifying the recipient in advance about the robot's location and enabling conditions for early collection. The recipient can prepare to collect the object at an intermediate point before the robot reaches the final destination, reducing overall wait time.
2Ease of operation
If the recipient is allowed to collect the conveyance object only at the destination, then security and control are simplified, but the recipient cannot collect the object early even if nearby
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces dynamic flexibility to the collection rule. Instead of a fixed rule (only destination), the system dynamically allows collection at intermediate points based on specific conditions: recipient notification, robot location transmission, and recipient authorization. This maintains security while enabling early collection when beneficial.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameter of collection location from a fixed value (destination only) to a variable that can take multiple values (destination or intermediate points). This is controlled by system parameters such as whether the recipient has been notified and has authorized early collection.
3Ease of operation
If the conveyance robot allows intermediate collection, then recipient convenience is improved, but the system complexity increases due to route management and security control
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the conveyance control system multi-functional. The same control system that manages destination delivery also handles intermediate collection points, notification management, location tracking, and security authorization. This universal approach avoids creating separate specialized systems for each function.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses an intermediary communication mechanism (notification system) to coordinate between the robot, management system, and recipient. This intermediary layer simplifies control by centralizing the decision-making logic for intermediate collection in one place rather than requiring complex distributed control.
4Adaptability or versatility
If the conveyance robot changes its route autonomously to avoid obstacles, then navigation flexibility is improved, but the recipient cannot predict where to meet the robot
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback by continuously transmitting the robot's location information to the recipient. When the robot deviates from the scheduled route to avoid obstacles, the recipient receives updated location data, maintaining awareness of the robot's current position and enabling them to adjust their meeting point accordingly.
Data Source
AI summary
A conveyance control system according to the present disclosure is a conveyance control system configured to control a conveyance robot to autonomously move and convey a conveyance object to a destination, including: a reception unit configured to receive, from a scheduled recipient of the conveyance object, an instruction that the conveyance object is to be collected halfway through conveyance of the conveyance object; and an execution unit configured to execute a predetermined process for enabling collection of the conveyance object halfway through conveyance of the conveyance object when the reception unit receives the instruction.