Mobile Robot Elevator Button Pressing for Autonomous Floor Transitions
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Solution Overview
Problem
Mobile robots are limited to a single floor due to the inability to autonomously control elevators, necessitating manual operation by workers for floor transitions.
Innovation Solution
An elevator button pressing module mounted on the elevator floor control panel that communicates wirelessly with a mobile robot to autonomously press elevator buttons.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If the elevator control system is modified to allow mobile robot control, then the mobile robot can autonomously take the elevator, but the elevator safety is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary button pressing module that physically presses the elevator buttons on behalf of the mobile robot. This module acts as a mediator between the robot and the elevator control system, allowing the robot to control the elevator without directly modifying or integrating with the elevator's control system, thereby maintaining elevator safety while achieving autonomous operation
Solution Approach 2:
The button pressing module replicates the function of manual button pressing by using a pressing element that physically contacts and activates the elevator buttons. This copying approach allows the mobile robot to simulate human operation of the elevator, achieving autonomous control without requiring system integration or modifications to the elevator control architecture
2Reliability
If manual operation by workers is required for floor transitions, then elevator safety is maintained, but productivity is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The mobile robot uses the button pressing module to press the elevator buttons itself, enabling self-service operation. The robot independently controls its own transportation between floors without requiring human workers to manually operate the elevator, thereby improving productivity while maintaining safety through the intermediary control mechanism
Solution Approach 2:
The button pressing module serves as an intermediary that enables automated operation while preserving safety protocols. By using this intermediate device to press buttons rather than directly interfacing with the elevator control system, the system achieves efficient automated floor transitions without compromising the reliability of the elevator control architecture
Data Source
AI summary
A system for a mobile robot to autonomously take an elevator includes an elevator button pressing module mounted on an elevator floor control panel of the elevator. The elevator button pressing module communicates with the mobile robot wirelessly and is adapted to press a pair of elevator buttons on the elevator floor control panel according to an instruction issued by the mobile robot to call an elevator car.