Mitsubishi Electric has developed technology for controlling in-building mobile robots used for cleaning, security, delivery and guidance, as well as electric wheelchairs, using dynamic maps to help the robots interact with building facilities such as elevators and access control systems.

By supporting the safe, efficient movement of people and robots in buildings, the Japanese company’s technology is expected to reduce the workloads of building-management personnel and help realise smart buildings in which people and robots coexist safely.

Going forward, Mitsubishi says it will continue developing the technology in collaboration with developers and mobility manufacturers, aiming to introduce a commercial service after March 2021.

The three-dimensional building map shows the status of building facilities such as elevators and access control systems, location of mobility devices and passable routes. This is for use in buildings in which IoT technology has been deployed for energy-saving and labour-saving work environments throughout.

The building dynamic map is used to control the movements of multiple in-building robots. When they use elevators or pass by each other in narrow aisles, the system automatically guides them along the best routes to avoid hitting other robots, entering prohibited areas or boarding crowded elevators.

When passing through an access-control gate, the system uses the map to prioritise the movements of people as well as to prevent collisions.

In addition, elevators and access-control systems are linked to coordinate the efficient and safe movement of robots among people throughout the building, including when moving between floors.

The system also identifies the locations of robots, including when they break down, by recording the operations of elevators as well as the robots to visualise each unit’s location on the building dynamic map, so as to reduce building-management workloads.

Animated lighting is displayed on the floors in front of elevators to help people anticipate the movements of robots that are getting on and off the elevators, allowing people to enter and exit elevators smoothly and safely together with the robot. Animated lighting is also displayed as the robots move in other areas, allowing people to pass safely even in narrow passageways or in poor visibility.