Robot, control device, elevator system, and control method
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Solution Overview
Problem
Autonomous mobile robots cannot move to a robot standby floor when an elevator transitions to a halt operation, as existing technologies do not provide a mechanism for the robot to return to its standby position during elevator halts.
Innovation Solution
A control device that communicates with both the elevator control device and the robot, using an elevator/robot coordination unit to compare the robot's exit floor and standby floor and transmit a callback command to return the robot to its standby floor when the elevator halts, ensuring the robot can move back to its designated standby position.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the elevator transitions to a halt operation, then the elevator can perform parking or halt functions, but the robot cannot move to the robot standby floor and is left stranded
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by detecting the halt operation state in advance and comparing the robot's current floor with the standby floor before the halt fully takes effect. When floors differ, a callback command is issued proactively to ensure the robot returns to the standby floor before the elevator halts, preventing the robot from being stranded.
2Productivity
If the elevator operates normally without halt, then the robot can freely move between floors, but the robot may not return to the standby floor when the elevator halts
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback by continuously monitoring the elevator's operational state and the robot's current position. When the elevator transitions to halt mode, the system checks whether the robot is on the standby floor. If not, it sends a callback command to correct the position, ensuring the robot returns to the proper standby location after the halt operation completes.
3Reliability
If the robot is left on an inappropriate floor during elevator halt, then the elevator halt function is maintained, but the robot cannot perform charging or dust disposal operations
Solution Approach 1:
The control device acts as an intermediary between the elevator control device and the robot. It receives halt operation information from the elevator, determines whether the robot needs to return to the standby floor by comparing floors, and issues callback commands to the robot. This intermediary function ensures coordinated operation between the elevator and robot, allowing the robot to return to the standby floor for charging or dust disposal while the elevator performs halt operations.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention enables a robot (1) to move to a robot standby floor when an elevator transitions to a halt operation. An elevator/robot control unit (23) of an elevator/robot coordination device (2) of an elevator system (100) according to an aspect of the present invention, upon reception of information indicating that the elevator transitions to the halt operation from an elevator control panel 3 and when a robot exit floor and a robot standby floor are different, transmits an execution command of a robot callback operation for returning a robot (1) to the robot standby floor to the elevator control panel 3. Then, the elevator/robot control unit (23) carries out control for causing the elevator halt operation to be executed after detecting the completion of the robot callback operation.