Shared Mobility Robots With Zone Rebalancing for Urban Transport
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional short-range mobility solutions in cities face limitations due to traffic and parking issues, as conventional micro-mobility devices are inconvenient for portability and lack versatility in navigating narrow roads and sidewalks.
Innovation Solution
A shared mobility system utilizing robots allocated to specific performance zones, which can perform various tasks and adjust their distribution to maintain zone balance, receive user requests, and move users to destinations, with a server managing zone allocation and robot movement to ensure adequate task coverage and user transportation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional micro-mobility devices are used for short-range transportation, then individual mobility is provided, but portability and versatility in navigating narrow roads and sidewalks are poor
Solution Approach 1:
The robot is designed to perform multiple functions: it can provide user transportation, execute public security tasks, conduct advertisement activities, and perform cleaning operations. This multi-functionality allows a single device to replace multiple conventional mobility solutions and service robots, thereby improving versatility while maintaining ease of operation through automated control
Solution Approach 2:
The robot acts as an intermediary between the user and the destination, providing assisted mobility for users who may have difficulty navigating narrow roads and sidewalks themselves. The robot's automated navigation capabilities enable it to successfully navigate these challenging environments where conventional devices fail
2Productivity
If service robots are deployed for indoor tasks, then specific tasks can be performed, but they cannot be combined with mobility solutions for outdoor use
Solution Approach 1:
The robot integrates both service task capabilities (public security, advertisement, cleaning) and mobility functions (user transportation) into a single platform. The robot can dynamically switch between performing assigned tasks in its performance zone and transporting users to destinations, thereby combining task productivity with mobility versatility
Solution Approach 2:
The robot's functionality is dynamic and adaptable. It can transition between different operational modes: performing assigned tasks when in its performance zone, and switching to user transportation mode when a riding request is received. This dynamic adaptability allows the robot to combine multiple functions that were previously separate in conventional systems
3Productivity
If robots are assigned to specific performance zones to perform tasks, then task coverage is ensured, but user transportation flexibility is limited when robots cannot leave their zones
Solution Approach 1:
The robot's operational constraints are dynamic rather than static. While robots are assigned to specific performance zones for task execution, they can temporarily leave their zones to provide user transportation services. After completing transportation tasks, robots return to their performance zones to resume assigned tasks, creating a flexible system that adapts to user needs while maintaining task coverage
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback mechanisms to manage robot movements between performance zones and user requests. When a robot receives a riding request, it can deviate from its performance zone to provide transportation. The server coordinates these movements and manages zone balance, ensuring that task coverage is maintained while providing transportation flexibility
4Ease of operation
If robots move to provide user transportation, then mobility service is improved, but task coverage in original zones may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The server implements a feedback-based coordination system that monitors robot positions, performance zone requirements, and user requests. When robots move to provide transportation services, the server tracks their locations and manages the redistribution of robots to maintain adequate task coverage in all performance zones, balancing mobility service with task productivity
Solution Approach 2:
The robot fleet is designed with universal capabilities to perform both transportation and various service tasks. This multi-functionality allows the system to flexibly allocate robots between transportation duties and task execution based on real-time demands, ensuring that mobility service improvement does not come at the expense of task coverage
Data Source
AI summary
A shared mobility system using robots may include: a plurality of robots configured to be allocated performance zones and to perform assigned tasks in the performance zones, or assigned tasks without restriction of the performance zones. When one or more deviating robots performing the assigned tasks in the performance zones deviate from corresponding performance zones, one or more adjacent robots in adjacent performance zones adjacent to the corresponding performance zones move to the corresponding performance zones, a number of the one or more adjacent robots moving to the corresponding performance zones equaling a number of the one or more deviating robots.