Map-Based Robot Service Management for Real-Time Status Visibility

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current technologies lack effective management solutions for services delivered in predetermined areas, such as cities, using autonomous robots, which hinders efficient operation and monitoring of logistics and mobility services.

Innovation Solution

A service management device that includes an operator interface and processors to display and manage information about autonomous robots, providing real-time status updates and simulation capabilities for optimizing service delivery in predetermined areas.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Extent of automation

If autonomous robots are deployed for service delivery in predetermined areas, then service efficiency and automation level are improved, but monitoring and management complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveservice delivery automationVSAvoidmonitoring and management complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Extent of automationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The management system is segmented into multiple functional modules including map display module, robot status display module, and simulation module. Each module handles specific aspects of robot monitoring independently, reducing the complexity of overall system management while maintaining comprehensive oversight of autonomous robots in the predetermined area.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Loss of information

If real-time monitoring of autonomous robot positions and statuses is implemented, then service operation visibility is improved, but information processing load increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveservice operation visibilityVSAvoidinformation processing load
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The system extracts and displays only essential robot information (position, status) on the map interface, separating critical monitoring data from detailed operational data. This allows real-time visibility of robot locations and states without processing and displaying all possible robot parameters simultaneously, reducing information processing load while maintaining operational awareness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The system transitions from displaying detailed robot data in tabular formats to representing robots as visual markers on a geographic map. This spatial dimension allows operators to perceive multiple robot positions and statuses at a glance, improving visibility without increasing the volume of processed information.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Productivity

If simulation capabilities are added to optimize service delivery, then service efficiency is improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveservice delivery efficiencyVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The simulation module enables preliminary testing of service delivery scenarios before actual robot deployment. Operators can simulate various delivery routes, robot configurations, and operational parameters to optimize service efficiency in advance, avoiding the need for complex real-time adjustments during actual operations and reducing overall system complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3979165A1Service management device
Publication Date: 2022.04.06 TOYOTA JIDOSHA KK
  • EP3979165A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3979165A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3979165A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A service management device (100) manages a service delivered in a predetermined area (A). The service management device (100) has an operator interface (110) including a display (112) that displays information for an operator and receiving an input from the operator. The service management device (100) communicates with an autonomous robot (10) used for delivering the service in the predetermined area (A) to acquire, from the autonomous robot (10), service robot information (300) indicating at least a position and a status of the autonomous robot (10). The service management device (100) displays a map of the predetermined area (A) and the position of the autonomous robot (10) on the display (112), based on the service robot information (300). When the autonomous robot (10) displayed on the display (112) is specified by the operator through the operator interface (110), the service management device (100) displays a status window indicating the status of the autonomous robot (10) specified by the operator on the display (112), based on the service robot information (300).