Mobile Body Speed-State Switching Between Sidewalk and Roadway

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing mobile objects that can travel on both sidewalks and roadways face challenges in switching speeds frequently, leading to a burden on the vehicle or passengers due to differing speed limits, as current technologies do not adequately consider the road situation.

Innovation Solution

A device and method for controlling a mobile object that includes a control device with a road type recognizer and controller, which switches between first and second traveling states based on the road type and passenger intent, maintaining appropriate speed limits and notifying the passenger of the current state.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If autonomous driving control is implemented using related art technologies, then basic autonomous navigation can be achieved, but the system cannot properly respond to unexpected situations or emergencies requiring immediate human intervention

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem reliabilityVSAvoidmanual takeover capability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a notification unit as an intermediary between the autonomous driving control unit and the driver. This notification unit provides intermediate warnings and alerts to the driver, serving as a communication bridge that allows the autonomous system to convey system status and emergency conditions without requiring direct manual control intervention, thus maintaining reliability while preserving ease of operation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If complex control systems are added to handle emergencies, then system reliability improves, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveemergency response capabilityVSAvoidcontrol system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the emergency handling function from the complex autonomous driving control system and implements it through a separate, dedicated notification unit. This extracted component handles emergency communications independently, allowing the main autonomous driving control unit to remain relatively simple while still providing reliable emergency response capabilities through the specialized notification mechanism

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Measurement precision

If multiple sensors and cameras are deployed for comprehensive monitoring, then measurement precision improves, but device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenvironmental perception accuracyVSAvoidsensor system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The notification unit serves multiple functions: it displays system status information, provides emergency warnings, communicates sensor detection results, and guides driver actions. This multi-functional component consolidates what would otherwise require separate dedicated systems for each function, achieving comprehensive environmental perception and communication without proportionally increasing device complexity

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

Data Source

PatentEP4501731B1Device for controlling mobile body, method for controlling mobile body, and storage medium
Publication Date: 2026.04.08 HONDA MOTOR CO LTD
  • EP4501731B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4501731B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4501731B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A device for controlling a mobile object capable of moving both on a roadway and in a predetermined area different from the roadway, one or more passengers boarding the mobile object, includes a road type recognizer that recognizes whether the mobile object is moving on the roadway or moving in the predetermined area on the basis of an output of an external detection device that detects an external situation of the mobile object, and a controller that causes the mobile object to travel in any one of a first traveling state in which a speed of the mobile object is limited to a first speed and a second traveling state in which the speed of the mobile object is limited to a second speed lower than the first speed, on the basis of a road type recognized by the road type recognizer, and the controller causes the mobile object to travel in the second traveling state when the mobile object is traveling in the predetermined area, and performs switching between the first traveling state and the second traveling state in response to an instruction regarding the traveling state of the mobile object received from the passenger when the mobile object is caused to travel from the predetermined area to the roadway.