Patents by Inventor Shiro Oda

Shiro Oda has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11657634
    Abstract: A control system controls an operation mode of a mobile robot that autonomously moves in a predetermined area, and includes a feature detection unit, a classifying unit, and a system controller. The feature detection unit detects features of a person who is present in the vicinity of the mobile robot. The classifying unit classifies the person into a predetermined first group or a predetermined second group based on the features. The system controller selects a first operation mode when the person who belongs to the first group is present in the vicinity of the mobile robot and selects a second operation mode that is different from the first operation mode when the person who belongs to the first group is not present in the vicinity of the mobile robot, thereby controlling the mobile robot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tomohisa Takai, Yuhei Yamaguchi, Satoshi Toyoshima, Yuta Watanabe, Tetsuya Taira, Mikio Honda, Shiro Oda, Nobuhisa Otsuki
  • Patent number: 11656621
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a conveyance control system and the like that enable a scheduled recipient of a conveyance object to reliably receive the conveyance object even when a destination of a conveyance robot is changed for any reason. The conveyance control system is a conveyance control system configured to control a conveyance robot to autonomously move and convey a conveyance object to a destination, including: a change unit configured to change the destination after the conveyance robot starts conveying the conveyance object; and a notification unit configured to notify an information terminal of a scheduled recipient of the conveyance object about destination information regarding the destination that has been changed by the change unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tomohisa Takai, Yuhei Yamaguchi, Satoshi Toyoshima, Yuta Watanabe, Mikio Honda, Shiro Oda, Tetsuya Taira, Nobuhisa Otsuki
  • Publication number: 20230150132
    Abstract: A robot control system according to an embodiment is configured to control a mobile robot configured to autonomously move by referring to a map, the robot control system being further configured to: acquire a distance to a nearby object measured by using a range sensor; specify a position of the nearby object on the map according to the distance from a position of the mobile robot to the nearby object; estimate a moving direction of the nearby object in a lateral direction in accordance with a change of the distance to the nearby object, the lateral direction being a direction defined with reference to a traveling direction of the mobile robot; and change a route so that the mobile robot travels on a side opposite to the moving direction of the nearby object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2022
    Publication date: May 18, 2023
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuta WATANABE, Shiro ODA, Kei YOSHIKAWA, Yukinori KURAHASHI, Takeshi MATSUI
  • Publication number: 20230152811
    Abstract: A robot control system according to an embodiment is configured to control a mobile robot configured to autonomously move by referring to a map, the robot control system being further configured to: acquire a distance to a nearby object measured by using a range sensor; specify a position of the nearby object on the map according to the distance from a position of the mobile robot to the nearby object; estimate a movement vector indicating a moving speed and a moving direction of the nearby object according to a change in the distance to the nearby object; add a cost for restricting a movement of the mobile robot on the map; and perform control so that the mobile robot moves according to the cost updated according to a result of measurement by the range sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2022
    Publication date: May 18, 2023
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuta WATANABE, Shiro ODA, Kei YOSHIKAWA, Yukinori KURAHASHI, Takeshi MATSUI
  • Publication number: 20230150130
    Abstract: A robot control system according to an embodiment is configured to control a mobile robot configured to autonomously move by referring to a map, the robot control system being further configured to: acquire a distance to a nearby object measured by using a range sensor; specify a position of the nearby object on the map according to the distance from a position of the mobile robot to the nearby object; estimate a movement vector indicating a moving speed and a moving direction of the nearby object according to a change in the distance to the nearby object; add a cost for restricting a movement of the mobile robot on the map; and perform control so that the mobile robot moves according to the cost updated according to a result of measurement by the range sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2022
    Publication date: May 18, 2023
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuta WATANABE, Shiro ODA, Kei YOSHIKAWA, Yukinori KURAHASHI
  • Patent number: 11607812
    Abstract: A conveyance control system according to the present disclosure is a conveyance control system configured to control a conveyance robot to autonomously move and convey a conveyance object to a destination, including: a reception unit configured to receive, from a scheduled recipient of the conveyance object, an instruction that the conveyance object is to be collected halfway through conveyance of the conveyance object; and an execution unit configured to execute a predetermined process for enabling collection of the conveyance object halfway through conveyance of the conveyance object when the reception unit receives the instruction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tomohisa Takai, Yuhei Yamaguchi, Satoshi Toyoshima, Yuta Watanabe, Mikio Honda, Shiro Oda, Tetsuya Taira, Nobuhisa Otsuki
  • Patent number: 11584017
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a conveyance system and the like capable of preferably conveying a conveyed object in accordance with a state of the conveyed object. The conveyance system includes a conveyance robot, a drive controller, which is a controller, an image data acquisition unit, and a setting unit. The conveyance robot conveys the conveyed object. The drive controller controls an operation of the conveyance robot. The image data acquisition unit acquires image data obtained by capturing images of the conveyed object. The setting unit sets an operation parameter of the conveyance robot in the drive controller based on the acquired image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tomohisa Takai, Yuhei Yamaguchi, Satoshi Toyoshima, Yuta Watanabe, Tetsuya Taira, Mikio Honda, Shiro Oda, Nobuhisa Otsuki
  • Patent number: 11550332
    Abstract: An autonomous moving apparatus control system including a range sensor, a reflection plate, and a control unit. The range sensor is installed in a cage of an elevator and detects a distance to an object by receiving reflected light of signal light applied to the object. The reflection plate is disposed in an elevator hall of a floor on which the elevator stops, and reflects the signal light. The control unit determines whether or not a mobile robot, which is an autonomous moving apparatus, can get on and off the elevator based on a detected distance, the detected distance being a distance to the reflection plate detected by the range sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tomohisa Takai, Yuhei Yamaguchi, Satoshi Toyoshima, Yuta Watanabe, Mikio Honda, Shiro Oda, Tetsuya Taira, Nobuhisa Otsuki
  • Publication number: 20220413513
    Abstract: A robot management system executes, for a plurality of transport robots, an estimation process for estimating load applied to the transport robots based on a current value during traveling and a traveling distance or a traveling time of the transport robots. The robot management system determines a transport robot to be used from among the transport robots based on an estimation result in the estimation process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2022
    Publication date: December 29, 2022
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shiro ODA, Tetsuya Taira, Satoshi Toyoshima, Yuta Watanabe, Takeshi Matsui, Takayoshi Nasu, Kei Yoshikawa, Yusuke Ota, Yutaro Ishida, Yuji Onuma, Kyosuke Arai
  • Publication number: 20220339779
    Abstract: A robot control system according to the present embodiment includes a plurality of mobile robots that moves autonomously in a facility and a control device that controls the mobile robots. When the control device detects that two or more of the mobile robots are in a recovery requiring state, the control device notifies that the two or more mobile robots are in the recovery requiring state, together with priorities of the two or more mobile robots.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2022
    Publication date: October 27, 2022
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shiro ODA, Tetsuya TAIRA, Satoshi TOYOSHIMA, Yuta WATANABE, Takeshi MATSUI, Takayoshi NASU, Kei YOSHIKAWA, Yusuke OTA, Yutaro ISHIDA, Yuji ONUMA, Kyosuke ARAI
  • Publication number: 20220334588
    Abstract: A robot control system is a robot control system that controls a plurality of mobile robots, in which: each of the mobile robots includes right and left wheels, and a sensor that detects actions of the right and left wheels; and the control system calculates abrasion degrees of right and left components for the right and left wheels, depending on a detection result of the sensor, and manages traveling of the plurality of mobile robots, depending on the abrasion degrees.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2022
    Publication date: October 20, 2022
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shiro ODA, Tetsuya TAIRA, Satoshi TOYOSHIMA, Yuta WATANABE, Takeshi MATSUI, Takayoshi NASU, Kei YOSHIKAWA, Yusuke OTA, Yutaro ISHIDA, Yuji ONUMA, Kyosuke ARAI
  • Patent number: 11467581
    Abstract: An autonomous moving body includes: a determination unit configured to determine that the autonomous moving body has arrived at a waiting area on a current floor before the autonomous moving body gets on a car of the elevator; an orientation adjustment unit configured to adjust, when the determination unit determines that the autonomous moving body has arrived at the waiting area, an orientation of the autonomous moving body based on an exiting direction from the car on a destination floor; and a movement controller configured to cause, when the car arrives, the autonomous moving body to enter the car while maintaining the orientation adjusted by the orientation adjustment unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tomohisa Takai, Yuhei Yamaguchi, Satoshi Toyoshima, Yuta Watanabe, Mikio Honda, Shiro Oda, Tetsuya Taira, Nobuhisa Otsuki
  • Publication number: 20220258349
    Abstract: In a conveyance system, a conveyance object is conveyed by use of a plurality of mobile robots autonomously movable inside a facility. In a case where a blockade request event occurs in at least one area inside the facility, the conveyance system receives occurrence information transmitted from a facility management system configured to manage the facility and causes the mobile robots to execute an operation restriction to restrict operations of the mobile robots. In a case where a predetermined condition for the blockade request event is established after the mobile robots execute the operation restriction, the conveyance system reboots the mobile robots.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2021
    Publication date: August 18, 2022
    Inventors: Shiro ODA, Tetsuya TAIRA, Satoshi TOYOSHIMA, Yuta WATANABE, Takeshi MATSUI, Takayoshi NASU, Kei YOSHIKAWA, Yusuke OTA, Yutaro ISHIDA, Yuji ONUMA, Kyosuke ARAI
  • Publication number: 20220260992
    Abstract: A mobile robot receives first transmission information transmitted from a server device to manage the mobile robot in a state where wireless communication with the server device is possible, directly executes wireless communication with another mobile robot among the mobile robots and executes a reception process of receiving the first transmission information transmitted from the server device to manage the mobile robot from the other mobile robot in a case where wireless communication with the server device is not possible.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2021
    Publication date: August 18, 2022
    Inventors: Shiro ODA, Tetsuya TAIRA, Satoshi TOYOSHIMA, Yuta WATANABE, Takeshi MATSUI, Takayoshi NASU, Kei YOSHIKAWA, Yusuke OTA, Yutaro ISHIDA, Yuji ONUMA, Kyosuke ARAI
  • Publication number: 20220261004
    Abstract: An autonomous movement system according to an embodiment is an autonomous movement system for autonomous movement in a facility, the autonomous movement system changing a movement speed for the autonomous movement depending on a cooperation mode, a connection mode and a caution mode, the cooperation mode being a mode of moving while acquiring position information inside a first range in cooperation with a facility camera, the first range being a range that the facility camera photographs to generate image data, the facility camera being fixed in the facility, the connection mode being a mode of moving inside a second range and outside the first range, the second range being a range in which connection with an access point is performed by wireless communication, the access point being fixed in the facility, the caution mode being a mode of moving outside the first range and outside the second range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2021
    Publication date: August 18, 2022
    Inventors: Tetsuya Taira, Shiro Oda, Satoshi Toyoshima, Yuta Watanabe, Takeshi Matsui, Takayoshi Nasu, Kei Yoshikawa, Yusuke Ota, Yutaro Ishida, Yuji Onuma
  • Publication number: 20220262183
    Abstract: A control system that controls opening-closing of a security gate which is provided in a facility in which a plurality of mobile robots travels autonomously is provided. The control system performs: receiving a passing-through reservation signal for passing through the security gate; and allowing a plurality of mobile robots to consecutively pass through the security gate while the security gate opens its gate once when passing-through reservation signals are received from the plurality of mobile robots.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2021
    Publication date: August 18, 2022
    Inventors: Shiro ODA, Tetsuya TAIRA, Satoshi TOYOSHIMA, Yuta WATANABE, Takeshi MATSUI, Takayoshi NASU, Kei YOSHIKAWA, Yusuke OTA, Yutaro ISHIDA, Yuji ONUMA, Kyosuke ARAI
  • Publication number: 20220253069
    Abstract: A robot control system according to an embodiment is a robot control system that controls a mobile robot configured to be able to move autonomously inside a facility. When the mobile robot moves from a first area inside the facility to a second area through a partition configured to be openable and closable, a moving route of the mobile robot is set based on the mobile robot that is determined from an image captured by a first camera that photographs the first area and an obstacle that is determined from an image captured by a second camera that photographs the second area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2021
    Publication date: August 11, 2022
    Inventors: Tetsuya TAIRA, Shiro ODA, Satoshi TOYOSHIMA, Yuta WATANABE, Takeshi MATSUI, Takayoshi NASU, Kei YOSHIKAWA, Yusuke OTA, Yutaro ISHIDA, Yuji ONUMA
  • Publication number: 20220253072
    Abstract: A robot control system according to the present embodiment is a robot control system that controls a plurality of mobile robots that can autonomously move in a facility. The robot control system acquires error information indicating that an error has occurred in a first transport robot, acquires transported object information related to a transported object of the first transport robot, determines a second transport robot able to transport the transported object of the first transport robot among the transport robots based on the transported object information and the error information, and moves the second transport robot to a transfer location of the transported object of the first transport robot.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2021
    Publication date: August 11, 2022
    Inventors: Shiro Oda, Tetsuya Taira, Satoshi Toyoshima, Yuta Watanabe, Takeshi Matsui, Takayoshi Nasu, Kei Yoshikawa, Yusuke Ota, Yutaro Ishida, Yuji Onuma, Kyosuke Arai
  • Publication number: 20220250250
    Abstract: In a robot control system, the operation of a mobile robot that moves autonomously inside a facility is controlled based at least on an image captured by a photographing device that photographs a blind area located at a blind angle to the mobile robot. When entry of the mobile robot into a predetermined area corresponding to the blind area is detected, the amount of information obtainable from an image captured by the photographing device is increased.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2021
    Publication date: August 11, 2022
    Inventors: Shiro ODA, Tetsuya TAIRA, Satoshi TOYOSHIMA, Yuta WATANABE, Takeshi MATSUI, Takayoshi NASU, Kei YOSHIKAWA, Yusuke OTA, Yutaro ISHIDA, Yuji ONUMA, Kyosuke ARAI
  • Publication number: 20220241965
    Abstract: A robot control system according to the present embodiment is a robot control system that controls a plurality of transport robots that is travelable autonomously in a facility. The robot control system: acquires error information indicating that an error has occurred in a first transport robot; acquires transported object information related to a transported object of the first transport robot; determines a second transport robot able to transport the transported object of the first transport robot among the transport robots based on the transported object information and the error information; and moves the second transport robot to a transfer location of the transported object of the first transport robot.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2021
    Publication date: August 4, 2022
    Inventors: Tetsuya TAIRA, Shiro ODA, Satoshi TOYOSHIMA, Yuta WATANABE, Takeshi MATSUI, Takayoshi NASU, Kei YOSHIKAWA, Yusuke OTA, Yutaro ISHIDA, Yuji ONUMA