Robot Role Switching for Workload Balance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Robots with the same appearance are often tasked with different roles in various scenarios, leading to user confusion and potential overwork of specific robots, necessitating a method for role exchange between them to improve user experience and balance workload.

Innovation Solution

A robot role switching method that identifies and exchanges roles with other robots of the same appearance within a predetermined range, including synchronization of wake-up words, characters, and task assignments, as well as balancing workload by assessing mechanical wear and performing role exchanges based on remaining usage days or predetermined intervals.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If robots with the same appearance perform different tasks, then manufacturing cost is reduced and design is simplified, but user confusion occurs and workload balance deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing costVSAvoiduser experience
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses wake-up word changes as a form of identity differentiation. When a robot's workload exceeds a threshold, it exchanges identity information (including wake-up words) with another robot of the same model, effectively changing its operational identity while maintaining physical appearance. This resolves the contradiction by allowing visual uniformity for manufacturing efficiency while introducing functional differentiation through variable wake-up words to prevent user confusion.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #32Color changes

2Ease of manufacture

If robots with the same appearance perform different tasks, then manufacturing cost is reduced and design is simplified, but workload balance deteriorates and overwork occurs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedesign costVSAvoidworkload balance
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic role assignment where robots can exchange tasks and identity information based on real-time workload conditions. The system continuously monitors usage days and task completion status, and automatically triggers role exchanges when imbalance is detected. This dynamic adjustment mechanism enables the same hardware design to adaptively balance workload, resolving the contradiction between manufacturing simplicity and productivity optimization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Reliability

If role exchange is performed between robots, then user experience is improved and workload is balanced, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser experienceVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a universal role-exchange protocol that can be implemented across all robots of the same model without requiring hardware modifications. The identity information package (including wake-up words, task assignments, and usage data) serves as a multi-functional data structure that enables both user-facing personalization and backend workload management. This universal approach achieves improved user experience and workload balance while minimizing system complexity through software-based solutions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS11504858B2Role switching of robots with similar appearance
Publication Date: 2022.11.22 CHONGQING XINGJIE SHUXING TECHNOLOGY PARTNERSHIP ENTERPRISE (LLP)
  • US11504858B2 patent drawing
  • US11504858B2 patent drawing
  • US11504858B2 patent drawing

AI summary

A role switching method of robots with similar appearance includes: at a robot, the robot being capable of communicating with other robots within a predetermined range: identifying other robots having the same appearance as the robot itself within the predetermined range; and performing role exchange with the other robots having the same appearance as the robot itself within the predetermined range.