Autonomous Mobile Robot Control for Human-Aware Obstacle Response
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Solution Overview
Problem
Autonomously traveling mobile devices face challenges in safely navigating through crowded spaces like offices and public areas due to the inability to differentiate between human and non-human obstacles, leading to potential collisions.
Innovation Solution
A mobile device control system that utilizes sensors to determine whether an approaching object is human or not, adjusting its behavior accordingly, and incorporates a building management server to manage noise levels by controlling traveling speed and route based on positional noise records.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the mobile device travels autonomously at high speed in crowded spaces, then productivity is improved, but the risk of collision with humans and obstacles increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the obstacle detection and response system into distinct functional modules: sensor units for detecting objects, a control unit for determining whether detected objects are humans or non-human obstacles, and actuating units for executing different avoidance maneuvers. This segmentation enables the mobile device to process information and respond appropriately to different obstacle types, maintaining high traveling speed while reliably avoiding collisions with both humans and non-human obstacles through specialized handling for each category.
2Device complexity
If the mobile device uses simple obstacle detection, then device complexity is reduced, but the ability to differentiate between human and non-human obstacles is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal control unit that handles multiple functions: detecting objects via sensor units, determining whether detected objects are humans or non-human obstacles, and generating appropriate avoidance commands. This multi-functional control unit consolidates complex processing capabilities into a single integrated component, achieving high object identification accuracy without proportionally increasing overall device complexity through functional integration rather than separate dedicated components for each task.
3Productivity
If the mobile device travels quickly through noise-sensitive areas, then productivity is improved, but noise levels exceed allowable limits causing disturbance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic speed adjustment by equipping the mobile device with noise level detection capabilities and a control system that automatically modifies traveling speed based on real-time environmental conditions. When the mobile device approaches noise-sensitive areas or detects elevated ambient noise levels, the control system dynamically reduces speed to maintain noise levels within allowable limits. This dynamic adaptation enables the mobile device to travel efficiently through non-sensitive areas at high speed while automatically adjusting to protect noise-sensitive environments, resolving the contradiction between productivity and noise control.
Data Source
AI summary
Mobile devices, control systems and programs are disclosed. In one example, a mobile device performs different processing when an approaching object is a human. The mobile device includes a control unit that performs traveling control. It receives input detection information of a sensor on the mobile device and uses that to determine whether an approaching object is a human. In the case where the control unit determines that the object is a human, the mobile device stops after setting an article mounted in the mobile device in a direction of being visible to the human. In the case where the control unit determines that the object is not a human, the control unit stops or backs the mobile device or changes a traveling direction of the mobile device so as to avoid collision with the object.