Distribution system, information processing device, and method
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing distribution systems cannot manage the last time a human touched an article or the elapsed time since that touch, which is crucial for preventing the transmission of viruses or bacteria.
Innovation Solution
A distribution system that includes a transporter and a manager to track the time of human contact and elapsed time, allowing for the management of these parameters to reduce the risk of infection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a robot is used to deliver articles to reduce human contact, then the risk of viral or bacterial transmission is reduced, but the system cannot manage or track the last time a human touched the article
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a manager as an intermediary component that tracks and manages information about the last human contact time with articles. This manager receives data from sensors and maintains records, enabling the system to monitor contamination risk without requiring continuous human intervention in the delivery process.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual tracking of article handling with an automated information management system. Sensors and managers automatically detect and record human contact events, substituting mechanical/manual monitoring with electronic detection and data management systems.
2Reliability
If manual handling of articles is increased to improve inventory management, then article tracking is improved, but the risk of viral or bacterial transmission increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the manager continuously monitors and tracks human contact events with articles. This feedback system provides real-time information about contamination risk, enabling the system to make informed decisions about article handling and delivery timing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables preliminary tracking of human contact events before articles are delivered. By recording the last human contact time in advance, the system can assess contamination risk and determine appropriate waiting periods or handling procedures before delivery, preventing potential transmission.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the system tracks detailed information about human contact with articles, then contamination risk management is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the information management function into a separate manager component that handles tracking and recording. This separation allows the core delivery mechanism to remain simple while the manager handles the complexity of data collection, storage, and analysis independently.
Data Source
AI summary
A distribution system, an information processing device, and a method that can manage a last time at which a human touched an article prior to the article being received, or can manage an amount of elapsed time from that last time. The distribution system 1 includes a first distribution mechanism 10 that includes a first transporter 11 that transports an article to a destination of the article. The distribution system 1 also includes a manager that manages a first time that is a time earlier than a receiving time at which the article transported by the first transporter 11 is received and that is a last time at which a human contacted the article, or manages a first amount of elapsed time that is an amount of elapsed time from the first time.