Mobile Kiosk Robot Control for Indoor Service Relocation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current robotic service systems in venues like casinos lack efficient management and navigation capabilities, leading to inefficiencies in task execution and user interaction.
Innovation Solution
A kiosk robot system with a propulsion system, wireless interface, and touchscreen display, managed by a robot management system that includes an indoor positioning system and server for centralized task scheduling and assignment, enabling autonomous or semi-autonomous operation and navigation within the venue.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If a robotic service system is deployed in a venue, then service tasks can be automated, but efficient management and navigation capabilities are lacking
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an RMS server as an intermediary component that mediates between multiple kiosk robots and the venue management system. The server receives service requests, determines optimal robot assignments, calculates service locations, and transmits relocation requests to robots. This intermediary architecture centralizes the complex management and navigation logic, allowing individual robots to remain relatively simple while the system as a whole achieves efficient automated management.
2Productivity
If centralized control is implemented through RMS server, then task execution efficiency improves, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the robotic service system into distinct functional components: multiple independent kiosk robots, an RMS server for centralized coordination, and an indoor positioning system for location tracking. Each component has a specialized function - robots handle user interaction and service delivery, the server handles task assignment and coordination, and the positioning system handles location data. This segmentation allows the system to achieve high task execution efficiency through specialized components while managing overall complexity through modular design.
3Area of stationary object
If kiosk robots are deployed throughout the venue, then user service coverage increases, but navigation and relocation management becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism through the indoor positioning system, which continuously provides location information about kiosk robots to the RMS server. The server uses this feedback to determine optimal service locations based on request patterns and robot positions, then sends relocation requests to move robots to appropriate locations. This closed-loop feedback system enables effective management of multiple robots across large venue areas, as the server can dynamically adjust robot positions based on real-time location data and service demand.
Data Source
AI summary
A kiosk robot includes a propulsion system configured to allow the kiosk robot to move within an operations venue, a wireless interface configured to allow wireless networked communication between the kiosk robot and a wireless network, a touchscreen display device, a memory device, and a processor. The robot is configured to receive, from a robot management system (RMS) and via the wireless interface, a relocation request identifying a service location within the operations venue and at which the kiosk robot is to provide kiosk functionality, in response to receiving the relocation request, control the propulsion system to navigate the kiosk robot to the service location, and provide a kiosk graphical user interface (GUI) using the touchscreen display device, the kiosk GUI provides kiosk functionality to a user at the service location.