Granted Patent B2

US 12,351,430 · App. 17/494,325 · Granted Jul 8, 2025

Inventors: Shiro Oda (Anjo, JP); Tetsuya Taira (Nagakute, JP); Satoshi Toyoshima (Okazaki, JP); Yuta Watanabe (Toyota, JP); Takeshi Matsui (Nisshin, JP); Takayoshi Nasu (Okazaki, JP); Kei Yoshikawa (Nagoya, JP); Yusuke Ota (Nagakute, JP); Yutaro Ishida (Toyota, JP); Yuji Onuma (Nagoya, JP); Kyosuke Arai (Toyota, JP)

Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA

B66B1/3407B60W60/0025B66B1/2408B66B1/3461B66B1/3476B66B1/468B66B5/0012B66B2201/21B66B2201/403B66B2201/405B66B2201/4607

Abstract

Claims (20)

1. An autonomous mobile method for an autonomous mobile device that autonomously moves in a facility provided with an elevator, the autonomous mobile method comprising:

a step of acquiring the total number of the autonomous mobile devices including other autonomous mobile devices in a car of the elevator;

a step of determining whether the total number of the autonomous mobile devices in the car is larger than a threshold that is a plural number; and

a step of switching an operation mode of the car from a general mode in which a human is allowed to enter the car to a dedicated mode in which the human is prohibited from entering the car when the total number is larger than the threshold.

2. The autonomous mobile method according to claim 1 , wherein:

in the step of acquiring the total number of the autonomous mobile devices, the total number in which the number of the autonomous mobile devices waiting for entering the car is added to the number of the autonomous mobile devices in the car is acquired; and

in the step of determining whether the total number is larger than the threshold, whether the total number in which the number of the autonomous mobile devices waiting for entering the car is added to the number of the autonomous mobile devices in the car is larger than the threshold is determined.

3. The autonomous mobile method according to claim 1 , wherein in the step of switching the operation mode to the dedicated mode, a call switch that is disposed on a floor where the car stops and that calls the car is disabled.

4. The autonomous mobile method according to claim 1 , further comprising a step of switching the operation mode from the dedicated mode to a human use mode having a higher priority than the dedicated mode when the human use mode is requested after the step of switching the operation mode to the dedicated mode.

5. The autonomous mobile method according to claim 4 , wherein in the step of switching the operation mode to the human use mode, the autonomous mobile device exits the car.

6. An autonomous mobile method for an autonomous mobile system that includes an autonomous mobile device that autonomously moves in a facility provided with an elevator, and a server device that transmits and receives traveling information to and from the autonomous mobile device and controls lifting and lowering of a car of the elevator, the autonomous mobile method further comprising a step of switching, by the server device, of an operation mode of the car from a general mode in which a human is allowed to enter the car to a dedicated mode in which the human is prohibited from entering the car when the total number of the autonomous mobile devices in the car of the elevator is larger than a threshold that is a plural number.

7. The autonomous mobile method according to claim 6 , further comprising a step of switching, by the server device, the operation mode of the car from the general mode to the dedicated mode when the total number in which the number of the autonomous mobile devices waiting for entering the car is added to the number of the autonomous mobile devices in the car is larger than the threshold.

8. The autonomous mobile method according to claim 6 , further comprising a step of disabling, by the server device, a call switch that is disposed on a floor where the car stops and that calls the car in the dedicated mode.

9. The autonomous mobile method according to claim 6 , further comprising a step of switching, by the server device, the operation mode from the dedicated mode to a human use mode having a higher priority than the dedicated mode when the human use mode is requested.

10. The autonomous mobile method according to claim 9 , further comprising a step of causing, by the server device, the autonomous mobile device to exit the car when the operation mode is switched from the dedicated mode to the human use mode.

11. An autonomous mobile system that autonomously moves in a facility provided with an elevator, wherein when the total number of the autonomous mobile systems including other autonomous mobile systems in a car of the elevator is larger than a threshold that is a plural number, an operation mode of the car is switched from a general mode in which a human is allowed to enter the car to a dedicated mode in which the human is prohibited from entering the car.

12. An autonomous mobile program for an autonomous mobile device that autonomously moves in a facility provided with an elevator, the autonomous mobile program causing a computer to execute:

acquisition of the total number of the autonomous mobile devices including other autonomous mobile devices in a car of the elevator;

determination of whether the total number of the autonomous mobile devices in the car is larger than a threshold that is a plural number; and

switching of an operation mode of the car from a general mode in which a human is allowed to enter the car to a dedicated mode in which the human is prohibited from entering the car when the total number is larger than the threshold.

Assignments (1)

Priority Claims (1)

Continuity (1)

References Cited (14)