Remote Vehicle Rerouting for Factory Abnormality Handling

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Solution Overview

Problem

In the production of moving objects such as vehicles, abnormal moving objects can interfere with subsequent production steps when moved from one work place to another via unmanned driving.

Innovation Solution

An unmanned driving system that includes a remote control unit and an information acquisition unit to detect and respond to abnormalities in moving objects, rerouting them to appropriate repair locations before reaching the next work station, thereby preventing interference.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If unmanned driving is used to move moving objects between work places, then productivity is improved, but abnormal moving objects may interfere with subsequent production steps

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproduction efficiencyVSAvoidproduction process reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary abnormality detection before the moving object arrives at the second work place by monitoring during the unmanned driving process. When an abnormality is detected, the system proactively changes the destination to a third work place, preventing the abnormal object from interfering with subsequent production steps at the second work place.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If abnormal moving objects are detected and rerouted, then production process reliability is improved, but additional time is required for abnormality detection and route adjustment

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproduction process reliabilityVSAvoidtime for abnormality detection and route adjustment
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The abnormality detection is performed continuously during the unmanned driving process rather than as a separate step. The monitoring occurs concurrently with the movement, allowing for real-time detection and immediate destination adjustment without adding extra time to the production process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

3Difficulty of detecting and measuring

If continuous monitoring of moving objects is implemented, then abnormality detection capability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveabnormality detection capabilityVSAvoidmonitoring system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Difficulty of detecting and measuringVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The monitoring system is designed to detect multiple types of abnormalities (engine failures, brake failures, transmission failures, steering failures) using a unified monitoring framework. The destination determination unit universally handles different abnormality types by selecting from multiple possible destinations, reducing the need for separate specialized systems for each abnormality type.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP4691891A1Unmanned driving system, control device, unmanned driving method, method for manufacturing moving body, and moving body
Publication Date: 2026.02.11 TOYOTA JIDOSHA KK
  • EP4691891A1 patent drawingFigure 1A
  • EP4691891A1 patent drawingFigure 1B
  • EP4691891A1 patent drawingFigure 2A

AI summary

An unmanned driving system includes a moving object movable by remote control; a remote control unit that performs remote control of the moving object and moves the moving object from a first place in a factory where the moving object is produced to a second place in the factory, which is different from the first place; and an information acquisition unit that acquires information regarding abnormality in the moving object. When a predetermined condition including acquisition of information indicating that the moving object has an abnormality before the moving object arrives at the second place is satisfied, the remote control unit moves the moving object to a third place in the factory, which is different from the first place and the second place, before the moving object arrives at the second place.