IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,645,230
Granted Patent B2
US 12,645,230 · App. 18/606,174 · Granted Jun 2, 2026

Control system, control method, and non-transitory storage medium

Inventors: Kei Yoshikawa (Nagoya, JP); Shiro Oda (Anjo, JP); Takeshi Matsui (Nisshin, JP)
Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
G05D1/82G05D1/2232G05D2101/15G05D2105/31
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,645,230
App. No.
18/606,174
Granted
Jun 2, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A control system includes one or more processors configured to perform system control for controlling a system including a mobile robot configured to move autonomously and to be operated by a user based on a feature of a mobile body present around an operation interface configured to operate the mobile robot. The system control includes change control for changing operation limitation on the operation interface when the feature satisfies a predetermined condition.

Claims (24)

1 . A control system comprising one or more processors configured to perform system control for controlling a system including a mobile robot configured to move in a hospital, the mobile robot being configured to move autonomously and to be operated by a user through an operation interface wherein:

the one or more processors are configured to:

(a) determine whether a person within a threshold distance from the operation interface is a nurse, based on information on a color of clothing of the person;

(b) in a case where the person is determined to be a nurse, display on the operation interface an emergency stop button, a nurse call button, a mode switching button, a destination change button, a route change button, a wagon unloading button, and a move-to-charging-location button;

(c) in a case where the person is determined not to be a nurse, display only the nurse call button on the operation interface; and

(d) the nurse call button is a button configured to call a nurse.

2 . The control system according to claim 1 , wherein the operation interface includes at least one of an interface to be displayed on a display device installed on the mobile robot, a joystick device installed on the mobile robot, and an operation device configured to remotely operate the mobile robot.

3 . The control system according to claim 2 , wherein the operation interface includes the joystick device, and in a case where the person is determined not to be a nurse, the one or more processors are configured to mechanically fixing the joystick device to prohibit all operations by the joystick device.

4 . The control system according to claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors are configured to determine whether the person is a nurse based on a surrounding image of the operation interface.

5 . The control system according to claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors are configured to determine whether the person is a nurse using a learning model configured to receive the surrounding image and output information indicating whether the person is a nurse based the information on the color of clothing of the person.

6 . A control method comprising performing system control for controlling a system including a mobile robot configured to move in a hospital, the mobile robot being configured to move autonomously and to be operated by a user through an operation interface, the method comprising:

(a) determine whether a person within a threshold distance from the operation interface is a nurse, based on information on a color of clothing of the person;

(b) in a case where the person is determined to be a nurse, display on the operation interface an emergency stop button, a nurse call button, a mode switching button, a destination change button, a route change button, a wagon unloading button, and a move-to-charging-location button;

(c) in a case where the person is determined not to be a nurse, display only the nurse call button on the operation interface; and

(d) the nurse call button is a button configured to call a nurse.

7 . The control method according to claim 6 , wherein the operation interface includes at least one of an interface to be displayed on a display device installed on the mobile robot, a joystick device installed on the mobile robot, and an operation device configured to remotely operate the mobile robot.

8 . The control method according to claim 6 , wherein the determination of whether the person is a nurse is based a surrounding image of the operation interface.

9 . The control method according to claim 6 , wherein the determining of whether the person is a nurse is made using a learning model configured to receive the surrounding image and output information indicating whether the person is a nurse based on the information on the color of clothing of the person.

10 . A non-transitory storage medium storing instructions that are executable by one or more processors and that cause the one or more processors to perform functions comprising performing a process of performing system control for controlling a system including a mobile robot configured to move in a hospital, the mobile robot being configured to move autonomously and to be operated by a user through an operation interface wherein:

the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to:

(a) determine whether a person within a threshold distance from the operation interface is a nurse, based on information on a color of clothing of the person;

(b) in a case where the person is determined to be a nurse, display on the operation interface an emergency stop button, a nurse call button, a mode switching button, a destination change button, a route change button, a wagon unloading button, and a move-to-charging-location button;

(c) in a case where the person is determined not to be a nurse, display only the nurse call button on the operation interface; and

(d) the nurse call button is a button configured to call a nurse.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 15, 2024
From: YOSHIKAWA, KEI; ODA, SHIRO; MATSUI, TAKESHI
To: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Reel/Frame 066787/0189 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2023-068267 · Apr 19, 2023 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20240353866A1 · Oct 24, 2024
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