Tracking Robot With Deployable Drone Marking Escaped Targets

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional systems fail to effectively track suspicious objects that escape detection by a drone.

Innovation Solution

A tracking robot system comprising a drone capable of firing a tracking mark towards a suspicious object, a robot main body that can autonomously travel, and a detection unit to control the drone's movement based on detected situations, allowing the drone to depart and fire the tracking mark.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a drone is used to photograph a vehicle and its periphery, then the system can capture images of the vehicle, but it cannot track a suspicious object that escapes detection

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetracking capabilityVSAvoidresponse to escape situations
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically switches between ground-based robot mode and aerial drone mode based on the detection situation. When a suspicious object is detected, the drone automatically departs from the robot body to pursue and mark the target, enabling continuous tracking even when the object escapes the initial detection area

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

A tracking mark is introduced as an intermediary element that is attached to the suspicious object by the drone. This mark serves as a persistent identifier that enables continuous tracking of the escaped object, transforming the transient detection problem into a sustained tracking solution

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If the drone remains attached to the robot main body, then the system structure is compact, but the drone cannot depart to fire the tracking mark toward the suspicious object

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedrone deployment capabilityVSAvoidsystem configuration
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The drone's attachment state is made dynamic rather than static. The drone can transition between being mounted on the robot body for compact storage and being deployed independently for tracking operations, resolving the contradiction between compactness and operational capability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP4723074A1Tracking robot, tracking system, and drone
Publication Date: 2026.04.08 SOFTBANK GROUP CORP
  • EP4723074A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4723074A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4723074A1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

A tracking robot according to an embodiment includes a drone capable of tracking a suspicious object and firing a tracking mark toward the suspicious object, a robot main body capable of traveling autonomously in which the drone is capable of arriving and departing, a detection unit that detects a situation around a robot main body portion, and a control unit that controls the drone and causes the main body portion to travel autonomously depending on the situation detected by the detection unit. In a case where the suspicious object is detected, the control unit causes the drone to depart from the robot main body and fires a tracking mark from the drone toward the suspicious object.