Autonomous Robot Guidance With Separate Destination Reception
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional robot guidance systems require autonomous mobile robots to have complex configurations with built-in input interfaces and sensors, leading to increased costs and complexity, especially when multiple robots are operated.
Innovation Solution
A robot guidance system where autonomous mobile robots are configured to guide users independently of a separate reception apparatus that recognizes user destinations, allowing for the omission of user input interfaces from the robots and enabling efficient management and operation by a robot management unit.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the autonomous mobile robot includes built-in input interfaces and sensors to recognize destination, then the robot can independently recognize destination, but the robot structure becomes complicated and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the destination recognition function from the robot and places it in a separate reception apparatus. The robot is segmented to only perform guidance and navigation, while the reception apparatus handles user interaction and destination input. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by eliminating the need for complex input interfaces and sensors on the robot while maintaining destination recognition capability through the distributed system architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The reception apparatus acts as an intermediary between the user and the robot. Instead of the robot directly receiving user input through built-in interfaces, the reception apparatus mediates by receiving destination information from the user and transmitting it to the robot. This intermediary approach simplifies the robot structure while preserving the ability to recognize destinations.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple autonomous mobile robots are operated, then guidance service coverage is improved, but installation cost and management maintenance cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The reception apparatus serves multiple robots simultaneously, acting as a universal interface for destination input. Instead of each robot requiring its own input interface and sensor suite, a single reception apparatus provides this function for the entire fleet of robots. This multi-functionality approach allows multiple robots to operate with enhanced coverage while avoiding the cost multiplication that would result from duplicating input interfaces on each robot.
Solution Approach 2:
The system merges the destination recognition function at the reception apparatus level rather than distributing it across multiple robots. By combining this function in a centralized location, the system achieves economies of scale where one reception apparatus supports multiple robots, reducing both installation costs and ongoing maintenance expenses while maintaining the ability to provide guidance services across multiple areas.
3Extent of automation
If the robot includes various sensors for autonomous movement and position location, then the robot can control its movement autonomously, but the robot configuration becomes complicated
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the automation functions by separating destination recognition (handled by the reception apparatus) from autonomous navigation and movement control (handled by the robot). The robot is configured with only the sensors and systems necessary for movement and position location, while the reception apparatus handles the computational tasks related to destination processing. This segmentation reduces robot configuration complexity while maintaining full automation capability.
Data Source
AI summary
A guidance system S includes a plurality of autonomous mobile robots (1) which guide a user to a destination, and a reception apparatus (2) which is provided separately from the robots (1) and recognizes the destination. Availability of each of the plurality of robots (1) is managed based on a state of the robot and the destination.