Elevator Transfer Floor Reallocation for Mobile Robot Travel
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Solution Overview
Problem
The challenge of efficiently managing the travel of mobile robots in buildings with elevator systems, particularly at transfer floors, is exacerbated by the complexity of human-robot cooperation and the need to ensure smooth operation of elevator systems.
Innovation Solution
A method and control system that dynamically adjusts transfer floors for mobile robots by monitoring the state of existing transfer floors and reallocating them to new transfer floors with lower occupancy, using a service controller to generate control signals for both elevators and robots to optimize travel paths.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If the elevator system uses fixed transfer floors for robot passengers, then the system structure is simple, but the robot travel time increases due to crowded conditions at fixed transfer floors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic transfer floor assignment where the transfer floor for robot passengers is not fixed but changes based on real-time occupancy conditions. The system continuously monitors floor occupancy and dynamically selects alternative transfer floors to minimize robot travel time and avoid crowded conditions, thereby resolving the contradiction between simple system structure and reduced travel time.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameter of transfer floor selection from a static, predetermined value to a dynamic value that varies based on occupancy conditions. By monitoring occupancy parameters and adjusting the transfer floor selection accordingly, the system reduces robot travel time without requiring fundamental structural changes to the elevator system.
2Productivity
If the system dynamically adjusts transfer floors for mobile robots, then the robot travel efficiency improves, but the complexity of controlling the elevator system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control system is segmented into modular components: an occupancy monitoring module that tracks floor conditions, a decision module that selects appropriate transfer floors based on robot passenger requests and current occupancy, and an elevator control module that executes the transfer floor assignments. This segmentation manages control complexity by distributing functions across separate modules rather than requiring a monolithic complex control system.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback loops where occupancy data from transfer floors is continuously monitored and fed back to the control system. Based on this feedback, the system adjusts transfer floor selections in real-time to optimize robot travel efficiency, maintaining a balance between improved productivity and manageable control complexity through information-based adjustment rather than mechanical complexity.
3Productivity
If multiple elevators serve different sections with a shared transfer floor, then the elevator system is efficient for human passengers, but it creates bottlenecks for mobile robot travel
Solution Approach 1:
The system introduces an intermediary control mechanism that mediates between human passenger elevator services and robot passenger needs. When a robot requests elevator service, the control system acts as an intermediary to select alternative transfer floors that are less crowded, thereby reducing robot waiting time while maintaining the overall efficiency of the elevator system for human passengers.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system performs preliminary actions by proactively identifying and selecting alternative transfer floors before robots arrive at crowded transfer floors. By anticipating bottlenecks and pre-arranging alternative transfer locations based on occupancy predictions or real-time data, the system reduces robot waiting time without disrupting the efficient operation of elevators serving human passengers.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for managing a travel of a mobile robot, performed by a control system, includes: receiving data indicative of a state of the at least one transfer floor; receiving a service request; setting, in response to a detection that the state of the at least one transfer floor does not correspond to a reference state, another floor as a new transfer floor; generating a control signal to request an allowance of the elevators to travel to the new transfer floor; and generating a control signal comprising data at least indicative of a travel path of the mobile robot in the elevator utilizing the new transfer floor. Also, a control system, a computer program and a computer-readable medium are provided.