Environment Map Updates for Dynamic Entry-Prohibited Areas

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing systems for managing environment maps in workplaces with moving mechanisms do not effectively adapt to changing situations, leading to inefficiencies in setting and updating entry prohibited areas, which can result in unintended barriers and increased resource usage.

Innovation Solution

A system comprising a moving mechanism, a map management unit, and a position detector that dynamically sets and updates entry prohibited areas based on the current position and state of position indicators, allowing for real-time adjustments and reduced resource consumption by minimizing unnecessary map updates.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If entry prohibited areas are set based on static map information, then movement restrictions can be established, but the system cannot adapt to changing workplace situations and may create unintended barriers

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadaptability to changing workplace situationsVSAvoidaccuracy of entry prohibited area setting

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically updates the environment map by detecting the current positions of position indicators and automatically setting entry prohibited areas based on real-time positional information, allowing the system to adapt to changing workplace situations while maintaining accurate restriction boundaries

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The map management unit continuously receives position information from position detectors and updates the environment map accordingly, creating a feedback loop that ensures entry prohibited areas accurately reflect current workplace conditions and prevent unintended barriers

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Adaptability or versatility

If the environment map is updated frequently to reflect changing situations, then adaptability improves, but resource consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereal-time adaptation capabilityVSAvoidresource consumption for map updates

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs map updates periodically based on detected changes in position indicator locations, rather than continuously, thereby achieving real-time adaptability while minimizing unnecessary resource consumption during stable periods

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The map management unit automatically detects position changes and triggers updates only when necessary, enabling the system to self-regulate resource usage based on actual workplace dynamics without continuous external control

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP4254120A1System, method, and program for managing environment map corresponding to workplace where moving mechanism moves

Publication Date: 2023.10.04 OMRON CORP

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AI summary

Efficiency of work performed in a workplace where a moving mechanism moves is improved. A map management unit (10) manages an environment map (Me). A position detector (60) transmits, to the map management unit (10), information with which a current position of each of at least one position indicator (60) disposed at a workplace (WP) can be specified. The map management unit (10) specifies a current area including the current position on the environment map (Me). A moving mechanism (30) moves in the workplace (WP) while avoiding an entry prohibited area, based on the environment map (Me) in which a current area of each of the at least one position indicator (60) is set as the entry prohibited area, based on a state of the each of the at least one position indicator (60).