Robot Action Planning Using Crowd Characteristic Estimation
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Solution Overview
Problem
In environments with numerous unspecified users, such as stores or public facilities, robots struggle to provide information or guidance without causing confusion, especially as the number of users increases.
Innovation Solution
An information processing apparatus that includes a crowd characteristic estimator and a plan controller. The estimator analyzes external environment data to determine crowd characteristics, such as density and movement patterns, which the plan controller uses to optimize the action plan for a movable body, ensuring efficient movement without interfering with individual users.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a robot provides information or guidance services to numerous users in a crowded venue, then the service coverage and user assistance increase, but the robot may cause confusion or unstable movements due to the complex environment
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the crowd into multiple groups based on spatial distribution and movement characteristics. Each crowd group is independently analyzed and tracked, allowing the robot to provide targeted information services to different groups without being overwhelmed by the entire crowd complexity, thus maintaining movement stability while expanding service coverage
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary crowd characteristic estimation before the robot executes its movement and service tasks. By pre-analyzing crowd density, distribution, and movement patterns, the robot can plan its actions in advance, avoiding reactive unstable movements and ensuring reliable service delivery in crowded environments
2Adaptability or versatility
If the robot adjusts its action plan frequently to adapt to crowd movements, then the responsiveness to users improves, but the computational complexity and processing time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies partial action by selectively updating the action plan only when crowd characteristics change beyond certain thresholds. Instead of continuously recalculating the complete action plan, the system performs partial updates based on significant crowd movements, maintaining responsiveness while reducing computational complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes parameters of the action plan based on estimated crowd characteristics such as density, distribution, and movement velocity. By adjusting key parameters like service frequency, movement speed, and interaction timing according to crowd conditions, the system achieves adaptability without requiring complete recalculation of the action plan
Data Source
AI summary
An information processing apparatus includes a crowd characteristic estimator and a plan controller. The crowd characteristic estimator estimates information regarding a characteristic of a crowd on the basis of a sensing result of an external environment. The crowd is a collection of individuals present in the external environment. The plan controller controls a creation mode of an action plan for a movable body in the external environment on the basis of at least the information regarding the characteristic.