Transport Switching Control for Unmanned Vehicle Handover

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing transport methods do not efficiently switch between unmanned driving and transport device operation, leading to inefficiencies in power consumption and processing burden.

Innovation Solution

A transport method switching device that includes a position estimation unit, a command generation unit, and a movement control determination unit, allowing for smooth switching between unmanned driving and transport device operation by determining the appropriate control commands and power states based on the estimated position and transport status.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If movement control is continuously performed during transport device operation, then the moving object can be precisely controlled, but power consumption and processing burden increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontrol precisionVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The movement control is performed periodically rather than continuously. The control command generation is activated only when needed (when the moving object is not on the transport device or when position deviation exceeds the threshold), and suspended during transport device operation when the object is properly positioned, thereby reducing power consumption while maintaining control precision when required

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The transport device autonomously handles the moving object during transport operation without requiring continuous intervention from the movement control system. The system automatically switches to transport device control when the moving object is detected on the transport device, allowing the transport device to self-manage the transport process

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Measurement precision

If movement control is continuously performed during transport device operation, then the moving object position can be monitored, but processing burden increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveposition monitoring accuracyVSAvoidprocessing burden

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Position monitoring and control command generation are performed periodically based on transport device operation status rather than continuously. The control unit activates monitoring only when the moving object is not on the transport device or when position deviation exceeds the threshold, reducing processing burden while maintaining measurement precision when needed

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces continuous mechanical control with a hybrid system that uses transport device automation for routine transport operations. The movement control system is substituted with transport device control when the moving object is properly positioned, reducing the processing burden of the original control system while maintaining monitoring capabilities

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Ease of operation

If the moving object remains in movement control mode during transport, then it can move freely, but displacement during transport may occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemovement freedomVSAvoidposition stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The control mode dynamically switches between movement control and transport device control based on the moving object's position and transport device operation status. When the moving object is detected on the transport device and properly positioned, the system transitions to transport device control to prevent displacement, while allowing movement freedom when the object is not on the transport device

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The control unit acts as an intermediary that coordinates between movement control and transport device control. It detects the moving object's position and transport device status, then selectively activates the appropriate control mode to balance movement freedom with position stability during transport

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS20250085711A1Transport method switching device, transport switching method, and moving object

Publication Date: 2025.03.13 TOYOTA JIDOSHA KK

AI summary

A transport method switching device includes a position estimation unit estimating a position of a moving object capable of moving by unmanned driving, using moving object information detected by a moving object detector, the moving object information being at least one of an image of the moving object and 3D point cloud data of the moving object, a command generation unit generating and outputting a control command to move the moving object by movement control using the estimated position of the moving object; and a movement control determination unit determining whether to stop the movement control using a transport starting position of the moving object in a transport device, and a moving object position being a position of the moving object in the transport section and including the estimated position. When the movement control determination unit determines to stop the movement control, the command generation unit stops the movement control.