Autonomous Follow Robot Target Confirmation Before Movement

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing autonomous moving apparatuses lack a mechanism to confirm whether an operator is recognized as a follow target before initiating movement, potentially leading to unintended operation or loss of the target.

Innovation Solution

An autonomous moving apparatus equipped with a detector to identify and follow a person, a notifying unit to confirm recognition through specific actions, and a controller to adjust movement modes and provide notifications based on preset methods, ensuring the apparatus follows the intended target and responds to identification actions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If the autonomous moving apparatus immediately starts following the detected person, then the response speed is improved, but the reliability deteriorates due to potential misidentification

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveresponse speedVSAvoidtarget identification accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary confirmation actions before starting to follow the target. When a person is detected, the apparatus first displays an icon indicating detection and waits for confirmation input from the detected person (such as button press or voice command). Only after this preliminary confirmation is received does the apparatus begin following, ensuring the target is correctly identified before committing to the follow action.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If the apparatus adds confirmation mechanisms before moving, then the reliability is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetarget identification accuracyVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements a feedback loop where the detected person receives information about being detected (through icon display) and can provide confirmation input. The apparatus monitors this feedback and only initiates following when confirmation is received. This feedback mechanism ensures reliable target identification while keeping the interaction simple and intuitive for the user.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Reliability

If the apparatus waits for confirmation input, then the reliability is improved, but the loss of time increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetarget identification accuracyVSAvoidtime to start following

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The confirmation process is designed to be minimal and efficient. The system displays the detection icon and waits for a simple confirmation input (such as a single button press or voice command) rather than requiring multiple verification steps. This partial confirmation approach provides sufficient reliability to prevent misidentification while minimizing the time delay before following begins.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentUS11960275B2Autonomous moving apparatus and non-transitory computer readable medium

Publication Date: 2024.04.16 FUJIFILM BUSINESS INNOVATION CORP

AI summary

An autonomous moving apparatus includes a moving unit that moves the autonomous moving apparatus, a detector that detects distances from surrounding objects and shapes of the surrounding objects, a notifying unit that notifies surrounding persons, and a controller that controls the moving unit so that the autonomous moving apparatus moves so as to follow movement of a person recognized as a follow target by the detector and, when the person recognized as the follow target performs a specific action, controls the notifying unit to give a notification by a preset notification method in response to the specific action.