IP Library Granted Patent US 11,906,968
Granted Patent B2
US 11,906,968 · App. 17/267,329 · Granted Feb 20, 2024

Mobile device, mobile device control system, method, and program

Inventor: Tatsuma Sakurai (Tokyo, JP)
Assignee: Sony Group Corporation
G05D1/0214G01C21/206G05D1/0088G05D1/0223G05D1/0231G06V40/103G06V40/166G08G1/166
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,906,968
App. No.
17/267,329
Granted
Feb 20, 2024
Kind
B2
Abstract

Mobile devices, control systems and programs are disclosed. In one example, a mobile device performs different processing when an approaching object is a human. The mobile device includes a control unit that performs traveling control. It receives input detection information of a sensor on the mobile device and uses that to determine whether an approaching object is a human. In the case where the control unit determines that the object is a human, the mobile device stops after setting an article mounted in the mobile device in a direction of being visible to the human. In the case where the control unit determines that the object is not a human, the control unit stops or backs the mobile device or changes a traveling direction of the mobile device so as to avoid collision with the object.

Claims (62)

1. A mobile device comprising:

a controller configured to perform traveling control of the mobile device, wherein

the controller is configured to

receive input detection information of a sensor mounted on the mobile device,

determine whether or not an object approaching the mobile device is a human on a basis of the input detection information, and

perform control different between a case where the controller determines that the object is a human and a case where the controller determines that the object is not a human,

wherein, when the controller determines that the object is a human, the controller determines whether the human is oriented full face to the mobile device based on the input detection information,

when the controller determines that the human is oriented full face to the mobile device, the controller controls the mobile device to approach the human to a first predetermined distance and stop after setting an article mounted in the mobile device in a direction visible to the human, and

when the controller determines that the human is not oriented full face to the mobile device, the controller controls the mobile device to stop after setting the article mounted in the mobile device in the direction visible to the human at a position separated from the human by a second distance that is greater than the first predetermined distance.

2. The mobile device according to claim 1 , wherein

the sensor includes a camera, and

the controller determines whether or not the object approaching the mobile device is a human on a basis of a photographed image of the camera.

3. The mobile device according to claim 1 , wherein

in a case where the controller determines that the object is a human, the controller performs control of stopping after setting an article mounted in the mobile device in a direction of being visible to the human.

4. The mobile device according to claim 1 , wherein

in a case where the controller determines that the object is not a human, the controller stops or backs the mobile device or changes a traveling direction of the mobile device so as to avoid collision with the object.

5. The mobile device according to claim 1 , wherein

according to an allowable noise record map on which an allowable noise level corresponding to a position is recorded, the controller performs traveling speed control according to a traveling position such that a noise level is equal to or lower than the allowable noise level.

6. The mobile device according to claim 5 , wherein

the controller refers to the allowable noise record map retained by an external server and performs the traveling control.

7. The mobile device according to claim 5 , wherein

the controller performs control of changing a traveling speed according to a usage condition of a room in a vicinity of a traveling route.

8. The mobile device according to claim 5 , wherein

the controller performs control of changing a traveling speed according to a kind of traveling surface.

9. The mobile device according to claim 8 , wherein

the controller determines the kind of the traveling surface on a basis of an image photographed by a camera and performs the traveling control based on a determination result.

10. The mobile device according to claim 1 , wherein

the controller transmits at least one of a request to use moving means on a traveling route of the mobile device or a request to open and close a door to a building management server that performs processing of managing a building in which the mobile device travels.

11. The mobile device according to claim 10 , wherein

the controller transmits a request to use an elevator on the traveling route of the mobile device to the building management server and receives identification information of the elevator to be used from the building management server.

12. The mobile device according to claim 10 , wherein

the controller transmits a request to pass through a security door on the traveling route of the mobile device to the building management server and performs traveling control of passing through the security door opened by the building management server.

13. A mobile device control system comprising:

a mobile device; and

a building management server, wherein

the building management server retains an allowable noise record map on which an allowable noise level corresponding to a position is recorded,

the mobile device performs traveling speed control according to a traveling position such that a noise level is equal to or lower than the allowable noise level according to the allowable noise record map, and

the mobile device performs control of changing a traveling speed at least according to a type of manufactured material of a traveling surface.

14. The mobile device control system according to claim 13 , wherein

the mobile device transmits at least one of a request to use an elevator on a traveling route of the mobile device or a request to open and close a security door to the building management server, and

in response to request reception from the mobile device, the building management server performs processing for enabling usage of the elevator or passage through the security door.

15. A mobile device control method performed in a mobile device, the method comprising:

by a controller of the mobile device,

receiving input detection information of a sensor mounted on the mobile device;

determining whether or not an object approaching the mobile device is a human on a basis of the input detection information; and

performing control different between a case where the controller determines that the object is a human and a case where the controller determines that the object is not a human,

wherein, in response to determining that the object is a human, determining whether the human is oriented full face to the mobile device based on the input detection information,

in response to determining that the human is oriented full face to the mobile device, controlling the mobile device to approach the human to a first predetermined distance and stop after setting an article mounted in the mobile device in a direction visible to the human, and

in response to determining that the human is not oriented full face to the mobile device, controlling the mobile device to stop after setting the article mounted in the mobile device in the direction visible to the human at a position separated from the human by a second distance that is greater than the first predetermined distance.

16. A mobile device control method performed in a mobile device control system including a mobile device and a building management server, the method comprising:

by the building management server,

retaining an allowable noise record map on which an allowable noise level corresponding to a position is recorded; and

by the mobile device,

performing traveling speed control according to a traveling position such that a noise level is equal to or lower than the allowable noise level according to the allowable noise record map, and

performing control of changing a traveling speed at least according to a type of manufactured material of a traveling surface.

17. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing a program for making mobile device control processing performed in a mobile device, the program making a controller of the mobile device:

receive input detection information of a sensor mounted on the mobile device;

determine whether or not an object approaching the mobile device is a human on a basis of the input detection information; and

perform control different between a case where the controller determines that the object is a human and a case where the controller determines that the object is not a human,

wherein, when the controller determines that the object is a human, the controller determines whether the human is oriented full face to the mobile device based on the input detection information,

when the controller determines that the human is oriented full face to the mobile device, the controller controls the mobile device to approach the human to a first predetermined distance and stop after setting an article mounted in the mobile device in a direction visible to the human, and

when the controller determines that the human is not oriented full face to the mobile device, the controller controls the mobile device to stop after setting the article mounted in the mobile device in the direction visible to the human at a position separated from the human by a second distance that is greater than the first predetermined distance.

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jul 24, 2023
From: SONY CORPORATION
To: SONY GROUP CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 064368/0657 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 9, 2021
From: SAKURAI, TATSUMA
To: SONY CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 055202/0117 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2018-165725 · Sep 5, 2018 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20210240189A1 · Aug 5, 2021