Autonomous Shuttle Return Control Using Luggage Presence Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional autonomous vehicle systems incorrectly determine if a user has dropped off the vehicle based solely on occupancy, failing to account for luggage left inside, leading to potential misidentification and inefficient vehicle usage.
Innovation Solution
A mobile object and control system that autonomously travel within a closed area, determining user drop-off by monitoring the presence of luggage through cameras or weight sensors, and returning to a designated location when no luggage is detected for a predetermined period, allowing for efficient vehicle management and usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If user drop-off is determined based solely on occupancy status (button press, vehicle stop), then the determination process is simple, but the accuracy is low leading to erroneous determination when luggage is left in the vehicle
Solution Approach 1:
The determination system is segmented into multiple independent detection components: occupancy detection (buttons, stop status) and luggage detection (separate sensors). This allows each component to perform its specific function independently, improving overall accuracy without requiring complete system redesign.
Solution Approach 2:
A luggage detection mechanism acts as an intermediary element between the occupancy detection and the final drop-off determination. This intermediary provides additional information about luggage presence, enabling more accurate determination of whether the user has truly dropped off the vehicle.
2Productivity
If the mobile object returns to the first location immediately when no luggage is detected, then the vehicle availability is improved, but false returns may occur due to temporary luggage removal
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection of luggage presence before making the return decision. By detecting luggage status in advance and using it as a prerequisite condition, the system avoids premature returns while maintaining vehicle availability when appropriate.
Solution Approach 2:
The luggage detection system provides continuous feedback about luggage presence to the control device. This feedback mechanism allows the system to monitor changes in luggage status and adjust the return decision accordingly, preventing false returns while ensuring timely returns when users have truly dropped off.
Data Source
AI summary
A control device controls a mobile object capable of traveling within a predetermined closed area, which allows a user to get on the mobile object at a first location within the predetermined closed area and to get off at a second location different from the first location. The control device controls the mobile object such that the mobile object travels to the first location when the mobile object remains in a state, for a predetermined period of time, in which no luggage is left in the mobile object.