Autonomous mobile robot scaling

{
  "publication_number": "US12284576B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Autonomous mobile robot scaling",
  "abstract": "A robot including a resource sharing circuit, configured to operate according to a resource utilization limit, and comprising a processor, configured to receive resource data representing a resource utilization of the robot; if the resource utilization of the robot is within a predetermined range, operate according to a first operational mode, wherein an upper limit of the predetermined range is defined by a tolerance relative to the resource utilization limit; if the resource utilization of the robot is outside of the predetermined range, operate according to a second operational mode; wherein the first operational mode includes controlling a communication circuit to send a first wireless signal representing an availability to accept a task; and wherein the second operational mode includes controlling the communication circuit to send a second wireless signal representing an availability to allocate a task to an external device for remote processing.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A robot, comprising: a resource sharing circuit, configured to operate according to a resource utilization limit according to a first task profile, the resource sharing circuit comprising a processor, configured to: send the first task profile to one or more other robots, wherein the first task profile represents a utilization threshold for one or more internal modules of the robot; receive from the one or more other robots one or more second task profiles, wherein the second task profiles respectively represent a utilization threshold for one or more internal modules of the one or more other robots; receive resource data representing a resource utilization of the robot; if the resource utilization of the robot is within a predetermined range relative to the first task profile, operate according to a first operational mode, wherein the first operational mode comprises controlling a communication circuit to send a first wireless signal to at least one of the one or more other robots representing an availability to accept a task from one of the one or more other robots for processing by the robot, or to accept a task allocated by one of the one or more other robots; if the resource utilization of the robot is outside of the predetermined range relative to the first task profile, operate according to a second operational mode; and wherein the second operational mode comprises controlling the communication circuit to send a second wireless signal to at least one of the one or more other robots representing an availability to allocate a task to an external device for remote processing.",
    "2. The robot of claim 1, wherein an upper limit of the predetermined range is defined by a tolerance relative to the resource utilization limit, and wherein the resource data represent a utilization by the robot of any of a sensor, a processor, a motor, or any combination thereof.",
    "3. The robot of claim 1, wherein the resource utilization limit represents a maximum permitted utilization of any of a sensor, a processor, a motor, or any combination thereof.",
    "4. The robot of claim 1, wherein the tolerance is an estimated resource utilization for performance of the task.",
    "5. The robot of claim 4, wherein the upper limit of the predetermined range is a difference between the resource utilization limit and the tolerance.",
    "6. The robot of claim 4, wherein the tolerance is a fixed number.",
    "7. The robot of claim 1, wherein, in the first operational mode, the resource sharing circuit is configured to receive from the communication circuit a signal representing a task allocation from an external device, and wherein the processor is configured to perform a task of the allocated task from the external device and to control the communication circuit to send a result of the performance of the allocated task to the external device.",
    "8. The robot of claim 1, wherein, in the first operational mode: the resource sharing circuit is configured to receive from the communication circuit a signal representing a task from an external device; and the processor is configured to perform the task from the external device, control a sensor to perform the task from the external device, control a motor to perform the task from the external device, or any combination thereof, and to control the communication circuit to send a result of the performed task to the external device.",
    "9. The robot of claim 1, wherein, in the second operational mode: the resource sharing circuit is configured to receive from the communication circuit a signal from the external device representing an availability of the external device to perform a task, and wherein the processor is configured to control the communication circuit to send a signal representing the task for remote performance.",
    "10. The robot of claim 1, wherein, in the second operational mode: the resource sharing circuit is configured to receive from the communication circuit a signal from the external device representing a result of the task for remote performance.",
    "11. The robot of claim 1, further comprising a task profile selection circuit, comprising a processor, configured to select a task profile from a plurality of predetermined task profiles, wherein the task profile comprises the resource utilization limit.",
    "12. The robot of claim 11, wherein the processor of the task profile section circuit is configured to select the task profile based on group membership of the robot, a task assigned to the robot, a sensor functionality of the robot; a sensor utilization of the robot; a processor capacity of the robot, a processor utilization of the robot, or any combination thereof.",
    "13. The robot of claim 11, wherein the task profile selection circuit is configured to use a neural network, and wherein the neural network is configured to select the task profile from a plurality of predetermined task profiles.",
    "14. The robot of claim 13, wherein the neural network is configured to select the task profile based on group membership of the robot, a task assigned to the robot, a sensor functionality of the robot; a sensor utilization of the robot; a processor capacity of the robot, a processor utilization of the robot, or any combination thereof.",
    "15. The robot of claim 1 wherein the first wireless signal comprises data representing the task profile.",
    "16. A non-transitory computer readable medium, comprising instructions which, if executed, cause a processor to: receive resource data representing a resource utilization of a robot according to a first task profile; control a transmitter to send the first task profile to one or more other robots, wherein the first task profile represents a utilization threshold for one or more internal modules of the robot; receive from the one or more other robots one or more second task profiles, wherein the second task profiles respectively represent a utilization threshold for one or more internal modules of the one or more other robots; operate, if the resource utilization of the robot is within a predetermined range, according to a first operational mode, wherein the first operational mode comprises controlling a communication circuit to send a first wireless signal to at least one of the one or more other robots representing an availability to accept a task from one of the one or more other robots for processing by the robot, or to accept a task allocated by one of the one or more other robots; operate, if the resource utilization of the robot is outside of the predetermined range, according to a second operational mode, wherein the second operational mode comprises controlling the communication circuit to send a second wireless signal to at least one of the one or more other robots representing an availability to allocate a task to an external device for remote processing.",
    "17. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 16, wherein the resource data represent a utilization of any of a sensor, a processor, a motor, or any combination thereof.",
    "18. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 16, wherein the resource utilization limit represents a maximum permitted utilization of any of a sensor, a processor, a motor, or any combination thereof.",
    "19. The robot of claim 1, wherein the sending the second wireless signal to at least one of the one or more other robots representing an availability to allocate a task to an external device for remote processing comprises selecting a task-recipient robot of the one or more other robots based on a task-profile received from the task-recipient robot and offer a task to the task-recipient robot for offloading.",
    "20. The robot of claim 1, wherein the one or more internal modules of the robot comprise any of processors, sensors, motors, or perception or data inference modules; and wherein the utilization threshold comprises an upper utilization limit for any of the internal modules."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "Various aspects relate generally to autonomous mobile robot (AMR) scaling and resource-based task allocation for AMRs.\n\nAMRs are increasingly utilized for task completion in a variety of contexts. In certain contexts, AMRs may complete tasks faster and/or less expensively than humans. Other tasks may be dangerous to humans and are thus best carried out by AMRs. As AMRs become utilized in a wider variety of contexts, they are being equipped with a greater array of functionalities. Such functionalities may include various degrees of reliance on the AMR's resources, such as, for example, computational resources, sensors, and/or motors. Each such functionality may require, for example, different amounts of processing power, different amounts of sensor utilization, and/or may place different magnitudes of demand on the battery. These resources are limited. For example, processing power is largely proportional to price, and therefore processors must be selected with a goal of keeping the overall price within an acceptable range. Additionally, AMRs may be under increasing pressure related to form factor, such as the pressure to be increasingly miniaturized. Such miniaturization may have a negative effect on battery power and/or battery longevity, as well as the quantity, type, and the power efficiency of sensors. In light of the constraints, such as those presented by limited processing power, limited battery capacity, and other sensor limitations, it is desired to create strategies to permit AMRs to better carry out their desired functions despite their limited resources.",
  "cpc": [
    "H04W 4/38",
    "B25J 9/1661",
    "G05B 2219/39117",
    "G06F 2209/509",
    "G06F 9/5005",
    "G06F 9/5083",
    "H04W 4/06"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "G01C 22/00",
    "G06F 9/50",
    "H04W 4/06",
    "H04W 4/38"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "INTEL CORP"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "SINGH RUCHIKA CHAWLA",
    "CHATTOPADHYAY RITA",
    "CHIN SIEW WEN",
    "MANEPALLI SANGEETA"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2021-07-02",
  "publication_date": "2025-04-22",
  "grant_date": "2025-04-22",
  "priority_date": "2020-12-21",
  "application_number": "US-202117366099-A",
  "family_id": "82022779",
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  ]
}