Working Machine Emotion Improvement System

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing emotion-improving technologies, such as those described in JP 2016-137200A and US 2014/088840A1, are primarily designed for vehicle occupants and are not easily adaptable to working machines, which do not operate within a vehicular environment, making it difficult to improve user emotions in non-vehicular settings like lawn mowing or agricultural operations.

Innovation Solution

An emotion improving apparatus and method for working machines, comprising a biological information acquiring unit, an uncomfortable emotion determining unit, and a working machine controlling unit, which autonomously travels and performs predetermined operations to improve user emotions by acquiring biological data, determining uncomfortable emotions, and controlling the machine to execute specific operations like traversing patterns or speech outputs to alleviate user stress.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If emotion improvement technology designed for vehicle occupants is applied to working machines, then the emotion improvement function can be achieved, but the adaptability to non-vehicular environments deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadaptability to non-vehicular environmentsVSAvoidcomplexity of emotion improvement system
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies universality by designing an emotion improvement system that functions across different environments (vehicular and non-vehicular). The working machine itself serves multiple functions: it performs the primary work task (lawn mowing, agriculture) and simultaneously acts as an emotion improvement device through its autonomous operations, eliminating the need for separate vehicle-specific emotion control systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The working machine performs self-service by autonomously detecting user emotions through biological information sensors and automatically adjusting its operations to improve user emotional state. The machine serves itself to improve user experience without requiring external vehicle infrastructure or complex separate control systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Measurement precision

If biological information acquiring units and emotion determining units are added to working machines, then emotion detection capability is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprecision of emotion detectionVSAvoidcomplexity of working machine system
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the emotion detection and improvement functions into the existing working machine control system. The biological information acquiring unit, uncomfortable emotion determining unit, and working machine controlling unit are integrated into a unified control architecture that leverages the machine's existing sensors and actuators, avoiding the need for completely separate complex systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The control system serves multiple purposes: it manages the primary working functions (mowing, spraying) and simultaneously performs emotion detection and improvement operations. This multi-functionality reduces overall system complexity by consolidating control logic rather than adding separate dedicated systems for each function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Adaptability or versatility

If the working machine performs predetermined operations to improve user emotions, then the emotion improvement effect is achieved, but the productivity for primary work tasks may deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveemotion improvement effectVSAvoidproductivity of primary work tasks
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The working machine performs emotion improvement operations periodically or intermittently rather than continuously. The autonomous operations (such as changing mowing patterns, pausing, or adjusting speed) are applied in cycles that allow primary work tasks to proceed while periodically interrupting to address user emotional state, thus maintaining overall productivity while achieving emotion improvement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The working machine dynamically adjusts its operations based on real-time emotion detection. When uncomfortable emotions are detected, the machine modifies its behavior (speed, pattern, pauses) to improve user state, then returns to normal operation when emotions improve. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to balance productivity and emotion improvement based on current user needs rather than following fixed schedules.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3549430B1Emotion improvement device and emotion improvement method
Publication Date: 2021.06.23 HONDA MOTOR CO LTD
  • EP3549430B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3549430B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2B
  • EP3549430B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An emotion improving apparatus (100) includes: a biological information acquiring unit (20) acquiring a biological information of a user; an uncomfortable emotion determining unit (11) determining whether a predetermined uncomfortable emotion occurs to the user based on the biological information acquired by the biological information acquiring unit (20); and a working machine controlling unit (15) controlling the working machine to perform a predetermined operation for improving the uncomfortable emotion to the user when it is determined by the uncomfortable emotion determining unit (11) that the predetermined uncomfortable emotion occurs.