Object Position Estimation Using Step-Adaptive Appearance Data

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing systems fail to accurately estimate the location and position of a moving object during manufacturing due to changes in its appearance, leading to potential errors in remote control operations.

Innovation Solution

A system comprising sensors, step information acquisition, comparison information acquisition, and estimation units that adapt comparison information based on manufacturing progress to accurately estimate the location and position of a moving object, while also detecting mounting failures.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If the appearance information of the moving object is used for estimation without considering manufacturing progress, then the estimation process is simple, but the estimation accuracy deteriorates due to appearance changes during manufacturing

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveestimation accuracyVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system pre-acquires appearance information at each manufacturing step and stores it in advance. When estimating the moving object's location and position, the system retrieves the appropriate pre-acquired appearance information corresponding to the current manufacturing step, enabling accurate estimation without real-time complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically selects comparison information based on the current manufacturing step. As the moving object progresses through different manufacturing steps and its appearance changes, the system automatically switches to the appropriate pre-acquired appearance information for that specific step, maintaining estimation accuracy throughout the manufacturing process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Measurement precision

If comparison information is acquired repeatedly for every appearance information acquisition, then the estimation accuracy is maintained, but the processing burden increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveestimation accuracyVSAvoidprocessing efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

Appearance information is acquired and stored in advance for each manufacturing step before actual estimation is needed. This pre-acquisition eliminates the need for repeated real-time acquisition during estimation processes, reducing processing burden while maintaining accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system creates copies of appearance information for each manufacturing step and stores them for later retrieval. Instead of acquiring new appearance information repeatedly, the system uses these pre-created copies corresponding to the current manufacturing step, significantly reducing processing burden.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

3Adaptability or versatility

If the system uses fixed appearance information for estimation, then the system complexity is low, but the adaptability to manufacturing progress changes deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadaptability to manufacturing changesVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adapts to manufacturing progress by selecting appearance information corresponding to the current manufacturing step. As the moving object progresses through different manufacturing stages with changing appearances, the system automatically switches to the appropriate pre-acquired appearance information, providing high adaptability without excessive complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system prepares appearance information for each possible manufacturing step in advance. When the moving object reaches a specific manufacturing step, the system retrieves the corresponding pre-prepared appearance information, enabling smooth adaptation to manufacturing progress changes without complex real-time processing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP4557036B1System, device, and method
Publication Date: 2025.11.26 TOYOTA JIDOSHA KK
  • EP4557036B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4557036B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4557036B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A system comprises: a sensor that acquires appearance information containing the appearance of a moving object movable by unmanned driving; a step information acquisition unit that acquires step information about progress of a step of manufacturing the moving object; a comparison information acquisition unit that acquires comparison information representing the appearance of the moving object responsive to the step information; and an estimation unit that estimates at least one of the location and position of the moving object by making a comparison between the comparison information and the appearance information.