Guide Robot Travel Planning for Multi-Device Handover
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing mobile devices, such as guide robots, face challenges in efficiently guiding a guide target due to limitations in mobility performance and varying travelable environments, making it difficult for a single mobile device to continue guidance effectively.
Innovation Solution
An information processing apparatus that generates a travel instruction plan for a mobile device guiding a guide target, based on environment map information, mobility performance information, and current information, including guide task information, to optimize the guidance process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single mobile device is used to guide the guide target, then the device complexity is reduced, but the guidance efficiency and ability to handle complex environments deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the guidance task among multiple mobile devices, each responsible for specific areas or segments of the facility. The generation unit assigns guide tasks to different mobile devices based on their current positions, mobility performance, and the characteristics of the areas they need to cover, thereby improving overall guidance efficiency while maintaining manageable system complexity through structured task distribution.
2Productivity
If multiple mobile devices are deployed to improve guidance efficiency, then the productivity increases, but the device complexity and coordination requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where mobile devices report their current positions, status, and environmental observations back to the generation unit. The generation unit continuously updates the travel instruction plans based on this feedback, dynamically adjusting task assignments and routes to optimize guidance efficiency while managing the complexity of coordinating multiple devices through real-time information exchange.
3Productivity
If the travel instruction plan is optimized to minimize traveling time, then the productivity improves, but the calculation complexity and processing time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The generation unit pre-calculates and stores optimal routes and travel instruction plans based on the facility map information and mobility performance data before actual guidance tasks are executed. This preliminary preparation allows the system to quickly assign tasks and provide route guidance to mobile devices without performing complex real-time calculations during actual guidance operations, thereby minimizing traveling time while managing computational complexity.
4Adaptability or versatility
If the mobile device adapts to various travelable environments, then the adaptability improves, but the device complexity and mobility performance requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs mobile devices with universal capabilities that can handle multiple types of terrains and environments. The generation unit assigns guide tasks considering the mobility performance characteristics of each device, matching devices with appropriate environments based on their capabilities. This approach allows the system to achieve high adaptability to various travelable environments while managing device complexity through standardized multi-functional mobile device designs.
Data Source
AI summary
A mobile device is allowed to efficiently guide a guide target. A generation unit generates a travel instruction plan for a mobile device configured to guide a guide target, on the basis of environment map information on a facility in which the mobile device guides the guide target, mobility performance information on the mobile device, and current information and guide task information on the mobile device. For example, the generation unit decides on an area where the mobile device needs to guide the guide target, on the basis of the guide task information. Furthermore, for example, the generation unit decides on a mobile device that guides the guide target, so as to minimize a traveling time of the mobile device required for guiding the guide target around the decided area. Furthermore, for example, in a case where the mobile device configured to guide the guide target includes two or more mobile devices, the travel instruction plan includes travel instruction plans for respective ones of the two or more mobile devices.