Mobile Object-Following Path Control Around Corners

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Mobile apparatuses face challenges in following objects around corners without losing them, as they may collide with the corner or fail to capture the object in their field of view.

Innovation Solution

An information processing apparatus that determines the orientation of an object to be followed and generates a path for the mobile apparatus based on this orientation, rather than the object's current moving direction, to ensure continuous tracking and quick rediscovery of the object.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the mobile apparatus generates a path to capture the object at the center of the field of view when the object turns a corner, then the object can be continuously tracked, but the mobile apparatus may collide with the corner or lose the object

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontinuous tracking reliabilityVSAvoidcollision risk and object loss

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary action by predicting the object's future position and orientation before the object actually moves to that position. The path generation unit creates a path to a predicted future position based on the object's current orientation, allowing the mobile apparatus to proactively position itself to maintain continuous tracking without colliding with corners or losing the object.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Ease of manufacture

If the mobile apparatus traces the movement path of the object, then the path is simple to generate, but the object may be lost when the object turns a corner

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepath generation simplicityVSAvoidtracking continuity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies dynamics by making the path generation adaptive rather than static. Instead of simply tracing the object's past movement path, the path generation unit dynamically adjusts the target position based on the object's current orientation and predicted future position, allowing the path to adapt to the object's intended movement direction and maintain tracking continuity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Loss of time

If the mobile apparatus moves quickly to rediscover the object when lost, then rediscovery time is reduced, but the mobile apparatus may overshoot the object's position

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveobject rediscovery timeVSAvoidposition accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses feedback by continuously monitoring whether the object is within the field of view and adjusting the path generation accordingly. When the object is lost, the path generation unit receives feedback about the loss condition and generates a new path to the predicted future position, enabling the mobile apparatus to efficiently rediscover the object without overshooting by constantly adjusting based on real-time tracking status.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS20250172950A1Information processing apparatus, information processing method, information processing program, and mobile apparatus

Publication Date: 2025.05.29 SONY GROUP CORP

AI summary

A mobile apparatus continues to suitably follow an object to be followed. An information processing apparatus includes: an orientation determination unit that determines an orientation of an object to be followed; and a path generation unit that determines an orientation of a path end point on the basis of the orientation of the object to be followed, the path end point being an end point of a path for a mobile apparatus to follow the object to be followed, and generates the path. An information processing method includes: determining an orientation of an object to be followed; and determining an orientation of a path end point on the basis of the orientation of the object to be followed, the path end point being an end point of a path for a mobile apparatus to follow the object to be followed, and generating the path.