Route-Based Camera Load Control for Mobile Robot Monitoring

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing systems fail to efficiently select the usage state of cameras for power saving when monitoring mobile robots based on images captured by facility-installed cameras.

Innovation Solution

A control system that includes processors to decide camera usage based on scheduled traveling routes and positional relationships, allowing efficient selection of cameras to operate as information sources with varying loads for power-saving purposes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If all cameras are operated continuously to monitor the mobile robot, then monitoring coverage is improved, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemonitoring coverageVSAvoidcamera energy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The control device determines the mobile robot's traveling route in advance and pre-identifies which cameras should be operated and at what loads based on the scheduled route, rather than deciding in real-time. This allows cameras to be activated only when needed according to the predetermined plan, reducing unnecessary energy consumption while ensuring monitoring coverage is maintained when the robot passes through each camera's range.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts camera operation states and loads based on the mobile robot's position and traveling route. Cameras switch between operated/not operated states and adjust their operational loads according to real-time requirements, enabling flexible resource allocation that balances monitoring needs with energy efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Measurement precision

If cameras operate at high load to capture detailed images, then image quality is improved, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimage qualityVSAvoidcamera power consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Different cameras operate at different loads rather than uniformly. The control device determines appropriate operational loads for each camera based on its position relative to the mobile robot's route, the imaging range requirements, and the specific monitoring needs at that location. This allows high image quality where needed while reducing power consumption where lower quality suffices.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the operational parameters (load levels) of cameras based on the mobile robot's traveling route and position. By adjusting camera load parameters dynamically according to the determined route and real-time position, the system optimizes the balance between image quality and power consumption for each camera individually.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS12591252B2Control system, control method, and non-transitory storage medium

Publication Date: 2026.03.31 TOYOTA JIDOSHA KK

AI summary

A control system that is configured to control a system including a mobile robot configured to autonomously move and a plurality of cameras installed in a facility includes one or more processors. The one or more processors are configured to execute a decision process of deciding a camera to be used with at least one of a predetermined usage condition and a predetermined usage load from among the cameras in accordance with a scheduled traveling route of the mobile robot.