Personal Mobility Vehicle Routing for Remote Retrieval Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing navigation systems for small electric vehicles that travel on sidewalks face challenges in providing optimal route planning and navigation due to the need to consider pedestrian traffic, sidewalk regulations, and the potential for user discomfort when unmanned self-driving vehicles circle around or detour to reach destinations, especially when manned driving is not possible.

Innovation Solution

An operation system that includes a vehicle management part to monitor route deviation and immobile states, allowing for remote control or retrieval, and a planning part that generates optimal routes considering both unmanned and manned driving modes, with dynamic node and link settings for sidewalk travel, and infrastructure coordination for real-time adjustments.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If unmanned self-driving is used to provide automatic transportation services, then operational efficiency and service capability are improved, but the ability to handle unexpected circumstances and ensure safety deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperational efficiencyVSAvoidsafety
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a remote operator as an intermediary between the unmanned vehicle and the control system. When unexpected circumstances occur, the remote operator intervenes to handle the situation, combining the efficiency of unmanned operation with the safety of human judgment. The remote operator receives information from the vehicle's sensors and communication system, then provides appropriate control commands.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements continuous feedback through sensors that monitor the vehicle's environment and status. This feedback loop allows the vehicle to detect unexpected circumstances and communicate them to the remote operator, enabling timely intervention. The feedback mechanism ensures that the system remains responsive to changing conditions while maintaining automated operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Device complexity

If conventional route planning methods are used for sidewalk-traveling vehicles, then route generation is simplified, but the ability to provide optimal routes considering pedestrian traffic and sidewalk regulations deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveroute planning complexityVSAvoidroute optimization capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by creating specialized route planning algorithms tailored to sidewalk environments. Instead of using generic road-based navigation, the system implements specific considerations for pedestrian traffic patterns, sidewalk regulations, and accessibility requirements in different local areas. This allows optimal routing that adapts to local conditions while maintaining manageable system complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The route planning system is made dynamic by continuously adapting to real-time conditions such as pedestrian traffic, temporary obstacles, and changing sidewalk availability. The system can dynamically recalculate routes based on current environmental data, providing optimized paths that respond to changing conditions rather than relying on static pre-planned routes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Adaptability or versatility

If the vehicle circles around or detours to reach destinations on the left side of the road, then pickup capability is improved, but user comfort and perceived reliability deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepickup capabilityVSAvoiduser comfort
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by proactively communicating the planned route and any necessary detours to the user before execution. When a circle-around or detour is required for pickup, the system informs the user in advance, providing context and expected duration. This preliminary communication maintains user comfort by reducing uncertainty about the vehicle's behavior.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system provides continuous feedback during detour execution, keeping the user informed of the vehicle's location and progress toward the destination. This feedback mechanism reassures users that the detour is purposeful and progressing, maintaining perceived reliability and comfort even when the route is not direct.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP4290183B1Operation system for electric personal mobility vehicles
Publication Date: 2025.07.30 SUZUKI MOTOR CORP
  • EP4290183B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4290183B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP4290183B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

[Problem] To provide an operation system for a small electric vehicle that can execute vehicle retrieval rapidly and reliably in cases in which unmanned driving or manned driving can no longer continue due to unforeseen circumstances. [Solution] The operation system comprises: a route generation part (13) that generates, in response to a dispatch request from a user communication terminal connected through the communication system, a first travel route by unmanned driving from a current location of the vehicle to a pick-up location for a user associated with the user communication terminal, a second travel route by manned driving from the pick-up location for the user to a destination location, and a return route by unmanned driving from a drop-off location for the user to a vehicle station; and a vehicle management part (12) that monitors a location and status of the vehicle through the communication system, and has a function that gives notice to an operator of the operation server if the vehicle deviates from the route or does not move for a predetermined length of time during unmanned driving on the first travel route or the return route, or during manned driving on the second travel route.