Delivery Robot Departure Control Using Safe-Distance Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Manual control of departure time intervals for distribution robots is not accurate enough, leading to mutual interference or prolonged distribution times due to insufficient automation in coordinating the deployment of multiple robots.
Innovation Solution
A method where a first distribution robot acquires its own and the second robot's position information, controlling its driving state to maintain a preset safe distance, ensuring it departs only after the second robot has driven a safe distance, and communicates through a message channel to coordinate with other robots for efficient distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If multiple distribution robots are used for time-sharing distribution, then distribution capacity is improved, but manual control of departure time interval is not accurate enough leading to mutual interference or prolonged distribution time
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback control by having each distribution robot detect the position and state of other robots in real-time, and adjust its own departure timing based on this feedback. The control server coordinates multiple robots by receiving their position information and calculating optimal departure intervals, ensuring accurate time interval control without manual intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
A control server acts as an intermediary between multiple distribution robots, coordinating their departure times. The server receives position information from all robots, calculates the appropriate departure time intervals based on safe distance requirements, and manages the overall distribution process to prevent mutual interference while maximizing productivity.
2Loss of time
If the departure time interval is set too short, then distribution time is reduced, but mutual interference between distribution robots occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary calculations of safe departure time intervals before robots actually depart. The control server pre-calculates the minimum safe time interval based on robot speed, acceleration, and safe distance parameters, then uses this pre-calculated information to coordinate departures, ensuring both safety and time efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
Real-time feedback on robot positions and speeds allows the system to dynamically adjust departure timing. Each robot continuously reports its state to the control server, which monitors whether the actual distance between robots maintains the safe threshold, enabling precise control of departure intervals that prevents interference while minimizing distribution time.
3Reliability
If the departure time interval is set too long, then mutual interference is avoided, but distribution time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically changes the departure time interval parameter based on real-time conditions rather than using a fixed conservative interval. By adjusting the interval parameter according to actual robot positions, speeds, and route conditions, the system achieves the minimum necessary time for safe operation, avoiding unnecessarily long intervals that would increase distribution time.
Solution Approach 2:
The departure time interval is made dynamic rather than static. The control server continuously recalculates optimal intervals as robots move and conditions change, allowing the system to use shorter intervals when safe and longer intervals only when necessary, thereby minimizing overall distribution time while maintaining safety.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present application provides a method, apparatus, device, system for controlling a distribution robot and storage medium. The method includes: acquiring, by a first distribution robot, its own position information and position information of a second distribution robot, where the second distribution robot is a distribution robot closest to the first distribution robot that departs before the first distribution robot departs; and controlling, by the first distribution robot, the its own driving state according to its own position information, the position information of the second distribution robot, and a preset driving route, so that the first distribution robot drives at a fastest speed in a case that a distance to the second distribution robot is not less than a preset safe distance, which avoid a situation that two adjacent robots are unable to drive caused by mutual influence due to that the distance between them is too close, effectively reduce an overall distribution time, and solve the problem in the prior art caused by manual control of a departure time interval being not accurate enough.