Mobile Robot Peer-to-Peer Communication During Server Outages
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Solution Overview
Problem
Mobile robots in transport systems face challenges in receiving necessary information for management when wireless communication with the server device is interrupted, such as during emergencies, leading to difficulties in executing transport tasks and managing positional information.
Innovation Solution
The mobile robots are configured to establish direct wireless communication with each other to receive and transmit information, allowing them to continue operating even when communication with the server device is not possible, using inter-robot communication to share positional and state information.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If mobile robots rely on wireless communication with a server device for management information, then centralized control and management can be achieved, but communication interruptions during emergencies prevent continuous operation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the communication functions by enabling mobile robots to exchange information directly with each other in addition to communicating with the server device. This creates a mesh network where robots can share position and status information peer-to-peer, ensuring continuous operation even when server communication is interrupted during emergencies.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically changes communication parameters by switching between server-based centralized communication and robot-to-robot direct communication modes. When server communication is available, robots use centralized management; when interrupted, they automatically transition to direct peer-to-peer communication to maintain operational reliability.
2Loss of information
If RFID tags or landmarks are installed for position grasping, then positional information can be obtained, but the system becomes more complex and requires additional infrastructure
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using physical RFID tags or landmarks installed in the environment, the patent creates virtual copies of positional information by having mobile robots broadcast their own position data through wireless communication. Other robots receive and use this transmitted position information, eliminating the need for physical infrastructure while maintaining position awareness.
Solution Approach 2:
Mobile robots generate and share their own positional information without requiring external infrastructure. Each robot acts as both an information source and consumer, broadcasting its position and receiving positions of other robots, thereby serving its own information needs and those of the group without external aid.
3Loss of information
If mobile robots can only receive positional information, then location tracking is simple, but they cannot continue executing instructed work without server communication
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where mobile robots not only receive but also transmit management information including position, status, and task execution data to each other. This bidirectional information exchange allows robots to maintain awareness of their own state and the states of other robots, enabling continuous task execution through peer-to-peer coordination when server communication is unavailable.
Data Source
AI summary
A mobile robot receives first transmission information transmitted from a server device to manage the mobile robot in a state where wireless communication with the server device is possible, directly executes wireless communication with another mobile robot among the mobile robots and executes a reception process of receiving the first transmission information transmitted from the server device to manage the mobile robot from the other mobile robot in a case where wireless communication with the server device is not possible.