Granted Patent B2

US 12,554,258 · App. 18/229,691 · Granted Feb 17, 2026

Inventors: Thinh Nguyenquang (Osaka, JP); Hiroshi Yamauchi (Osaka, JP)

Assignee: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA

G05D1/0212G05D1/0287

Abstract

Claims (37)

1 . A traveling system comprising a management server and a plurality of automatic traveling devices, the management server receiving a signal, that includes order information, from at least one terminal, storing the order information in a storage device, and transmitting another signal to each automatic traveling device of the plurality of automatic traveling devices to carry at least one item, included in the order information, from a source location to a destination location, the management server comprising:

a setting processing circuit that sets a travel route for each of the plurality of automatic traveling devices;

a calculation processing circuit that calculates an evaluation value representing an influence level that a first automatic traveling device, among the plurality of automatic traveling devices, imposes on travels of a second automatic traveling device and a third automatic traveling device, among the plurality of automatic traveling devices, when:

the first automatic traveling device stops at a first location on a first travel route which leads to a first destination location, the first location included in a second travel route which leads to a second destination location of the second automatic traveling device,

the second automatic traveling device stops at a second location preceding the first location on the second travel route, the second location included in a third travel route which leads to a third destination location of the third automatic traveling device, and

the third automatic traveling device stops at a third location preceding the second location on the third travel route; and

a change processing circuit that, when the evaluation value calculated by the calculation processing circuit is greater than, or equal to, a threshold, changes the first travel route, that is set for the first automatic traveling device by the setting processing circuit, to a detour route that is different from the first travel route and that leads to the first destination location.

2 . The traveling system according to claim 1 , wherein

the evaluation value increases as a number of automatic traveling devices increases.

3 . The traveling system according to claim 1 , wherein

the change processing circuit, when the first automatic traveling device is in a stopped state:

sets a retreat location that is different from the first destination location of the first automatic traveling device, and

sets a retreat route which leads to the retreat location.

4 . The traveling system according to claim 1 , wherein

the calculation processing circuit calculates the evaluation value for each of the plurality of automatic traveling devices, and

the change processing circuit changes one or more travel routes for one or more automatic traveling devices, respectively, which have evaluation values that are greater than, or equal to, the threshold.

5 . The traveling system according to claim 1 , wherein

among one or more of the plurality of automatic traveling devices that have evaluation values greater than, or equal to, a threshold, the change processing circuit changes a travel route of an automatic traveling device that has a largest evaluation value.

6 . The traveling system according to claim 1 , wherein

among two or more automatic traveling devices of the plurality of automatic traveling devices that have evaluation values greater than, or equal to, a threshold, an automatic traveling device has a travel route that is changeable and another automatic traveling device has a travel route that is not changeable, and

the change processing circuit changes the travel route of the automatic traveling device for which the travel route is changeable.

7 . A traveling method performed by a traveling system comprising a management server and a plurality of automatic traveling devices, the management server receiving a signal, that includes order information, from at least one terminal, storing the order information in a storage device, and transmitting another signal to each automatic traveling device of the plurality of automatic traveling devices to carry at least one item, included in the order information, from a source location to a destination location, the traveling method comprising:

setting a travel route for each of the plurality of automatic traveling devices;

calculating an evaluation value representing an influence level that a first automatic traveling device, among the plurality of automatic traveling devices, imposes on travels of a second automatic traveling device and a third automatic traveling device, among the plurality of automatic traveling devices, when:

the first automatic traveling device stops at a first location on a first travel route which leads to a first destination location, the first location included in a second travel route which leads to a second destination location of the second automatic traveling device,

the second automatic traveling device stops at a second location preceding the first location on the second travel route, the second location included in a third travel route which leads to a third destination location of the third automatic traveling device, and

the third automatic traveling device stops at a third location preceding the second location on the third travel route; and

changing, when the evaluation value is greater than, or equal to, a threshold, the first travel route for the first automatic traveling device to a detour route that is different from the first travel route and that leads to the first destination location.

8 . The traveling system according to claim 1 , wherein

the plurality of automatic traveling devices is equipped with a plurality of containers, each for holding an item included in the order information.

9 . A traveling system comprising a management server and a plurality of automatic traveling devices, the management server receiving a signal, that includes order information, from at least one terminal, storing the order information in a storage device, and transmitting another signal to each automatic traveling device of the plurality of automatic traveling devices to carry at least one item, included in the order information, from a source location to a destination location, the management server comprising:

a setting processing circuit that sets a travel route for each of the plurality of automatic traveling devices;

a calculation processing circuit that calculates an evaluation value representing an influence level that a first automatic traveling device, among the plurality of automatic traveling devices, imposes on travels of a second automatic traveling device and a third automatic traveling device, among the plurality of automatic traveling devices, when:

the first automatic traveling device stops at a first location on a first travel route which leads to a first destination location, the first location included in a second travel route which leads to a second destination location of the second automatic traveling device,

the second automatic traveling device stops at a second location preceding the first location on the second travel route, the second location included in a third travel route which leads to a third destination location of the third automatic traveling device, and

the third automatic traveling device stops at a third location preceding the second location on the third travel route; and

a change processing circuit that, when the evaluation value calculated by the calculation processing circuit is greater than, or equal to, a threshold, changes the first travel route, that is set for the first automatic traveling device by the setting processing circuit, to a detour route that is different from the first travel route and that leads to the first destination location.

Assignments (1)

Priority Claims (1)

Continuity (1)

References Cited (14)