Robot cleaning management method and robot cleaning management device

Abstract

To provide a robot cleaning management method and a robot cleaning management device that can cause a robot to start cleaning after a cleaning target suspended in the air has fallen to the floor.SOLUTION: A robot cleaning management method includes a step of receiving a security notification signal notifying that the area has been set to security mode as a result of the last person leaving the area by a processor, and a step of causing the robot to start cleaning the area after a waiting time corresponding to the object to be cleaned has elapsed from the time the security notification signal has been received by the processor.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a robot cleaning management method and a robot cleaning management device. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, a system is known in which a robot starts cleaning after there are no more people in an area of ​​a building. For example, in the system described in Patent Document 1, when the main control device receives an input operation from the last person to leave, it monitors the output of the security sensor and the output of the open / close sensor for a certain period of time, and if a notification signal and a detection signal are not output, it switches the operation mode to security mode and displays that fact on the operation panel. The last person to leave confirms the completion of switching to security mode from the display on the operation panel and leaves the office. When the operation mode is security mode, the autonomous robot vacuum cleaner starts up, and is dispatched from the charging station to start cleaning. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2018-205917 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, after the last person leaves the room, cleaning objects such as dust may still be floating in the air. If the robot starts cleaning immediately after the last person leaves the room, the cleaning objects will not be removed because they have not fallen to the floor.

[0005] Therefore, an object of the present disclosure is to provide a robot cleaning management method and a robot cleaning management device that can cause a robot to start cleaning after a cleaning target floating in the air has fallen to the floor. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The robot cleaning management method disclosed herein includes a step of a processor receiving a security notification signal notifying the user that the area has been set to security mode due to the last person leaving the area, and a step of the processor causing the robot to start cleaning the area after a waiting time corresponding to the object to be cleaned has elapsed from the time the security notification signal was received.

[0007] The robot cleaning management method disclosed herein includes the steps of: a processor receiving a security notification signal notifying the area that the area has been set to security mode due to the last person leaving the area; and a processor causing the robot to start cleaning the area at a time after the time the security notification signal was received and a predetermined cleaning time before the expected time the security mode will be deactivated the next day.

[0008] The cleaning management device for a robot of the present disclosure includes a communication device and a processor that receives a security notification signal through the communication device, the security notification signal notifying the robot that the area has been set to security mode due to the last person leaving the area. The processor transmits a signal to the robot through the communication device to start cleaning the area after a waiting time corresponding to the object to be cleaned has elapsed from the time when the security notification signal was received.

[0009] The robot cleaning management device disclosed herein comprises a communication device and a processor that receives a security notification signal through the communication device notifying the robot that the area has been set to security mode due to the last person to leave the area, and the processor transmits a signal to the robot through the communication device to start cleaning the area at a time after the time the security notification signal is received and a specified cleaning time before the expected time when the security mode will be deactivated the next day. Effect of the Invention

[0010] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to cause a robot to start cleaning after an object to be cleaned suspended in the air has fallen to the floor. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a robotic cleaning management device 1 that cooperates with a system within a building or condominium. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of an indoor condition DB (Database) 7. [Diagram 3] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a cleaning start condition table 5. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a floor map. [Diagram 5] FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining the relationship between dust and cleaning time for a floor. [Figure 6] FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of a cleaning start waiting time table. [Figure 7] 4 is a flowchart showing a procedure for starting cleaning by the cleaning robot of the first embodiment. [Figure 8] 11 is a flowchart showing a procedure for starting cleaning by the cleaning robot of the second embodiment. [Figure 9] 13 is a flowchart showing a procedure for starting cleaning by the cleaning robot of the third embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0012] Hereinafter, embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0013] Embodiment 1 FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a robotic cleaning management device 1 that cooperates with a system in a building or condominium.

[0014] An entrance / exit control system 12 or a home security system 14 is installed in the building or apartment building.

[0015] The entrance / exit control system 12 includes a lighting / air conditioning coordinated security set status DB 13. The home security system 14 includes an away mode status DB 15.

[0016] The robot cleaning management device 1 includes a communication device 3, a processor 4, and a memory 2.

[0017] The memory 2 stores an indoor condition DB 7, a cleaning start condition table 5, a cleaning start waiting time table 6, and a program.

[0018] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the indoor state DB7.

[0019] The indoor status DB7 indicates the indoor status and the update time of the indoor status for each area of ​​the building. The area of ​​the building is indicated by the building name, floor number, and room name. The indoor status indicates whether the security set is ON or OFF.

[0020] Fig. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of cleaning start condition table 5. Fig. 4 is a diagram illustrating a floor map.

[0021] The cleaning start condition table 5 indicates the cleaning start condition, the cleaning robot that will perform the cleaning, the current cleaning availability status, and the last time the cleaning availability status was changed for each area of ​​the building. The area of ​​the building is indicated by the building name, the floor number, and the name of the area to be cleaned.

[0022] For example, the cleaning start conditions for cleaning target area "201" are recorded as follows: area "201" is an exited area, cleaning robot A will perform the cleaning, it is currently set to be available for cleaning, and it was set to be available for cleaning at 9 / 29, 6:25. The cleaning start conditions for cleaning target area "North Corridor" are recorded as follows: areas "202" and "203" are exited areas, cleaning robot D will perform the cleaning, it is currently set to be available for cleaning, and it was set to be available for cleaning at 9 / 29, 19:56.

[0023] The cleaning start waiting time table 6 defines the cleaning start waiting time for the object to be cleaned.

[0024] Fig. 5 is a diagram for explaining the relationship between dust and cleaning time on a floor. As shown in Fig. 5, the time it takes for dust to fall to the floor varies depending on the type of dust. Since the cleaning robot 11 cleans the floor, it is necessary to perform cleaning after the time the dust falls to the floor.

[0025] FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a cleaning start waiting time table.

[0026] A start waiting time is set for each cleaning object so that the cleaning robot 11 can clean the object after it has fallen to the floor. For example, when the cleaning object is house dust, the start waiting time is set to "3 minutes." After the cleaning robot 11 becomes ready to clean, it starts cleaning the "house dust" in "3 minutes."

[0027] The communication device 3 communicates with the entrance / exit control system 12 , the home security system 14 , and the cleaning robot 11 .

[0028] The processor 4 executes a program stored in the memory 2. The processor 4 receives a security notification signal from the entrance / exit management system 12 or the home security system 14 via the communication device 3, notifying the user that the area has been set to security mode as a result of the last person leaving the area. The processor 4 causes the cleaning robot 11 to start cleaning the area after a waiting time corresponding to the object to be cleaned has elapsed from the time the security notification signal was received. The waiting time is the time it takes for the floating object to be cleaned to fall to the floor.

[0029] FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a procedure for starting cleaning by the cleaning robot according to the first embodiment.

[0030] In step S101, when the last person to leave the area in the building turns on the security set, the process proceeds to step S102.

[0031] In step S102, the entrance / exit management system 12 updates the lighting / air conditioning linkage security set status DB 13 to indicate that the security set for the area in the building has been turned on (set to security mode).

[0032] In step S103, the entrance / exit management system 12 transmits a security notification signal to the cleaning management device 1 of the robot.

[0033] In step S104, the processor 4 of the robot cleaning management device 1 receives the security notification signal through the communication device 3.

[0034] In step S105, the processor 4 of the robot cleaning management device 1 updates the indoor state DB7 to indicate that the security set for the area in the building has been turned on. For example, when the security set is set to ON in area "202" at 19:56:02 on September 29, such information is recorded in the indoor state DB7 of FIG.

[0035] In step S106, the processor 4 of the robot's cleaning management device 1 updates the cleaning start condition table 5 to indicate that the cleaning availability status of the area has become available for cleaning. For example, in the cleaning start condition table 5 of Fig. 3, it is recorded that the area "202" became available for cleaning at 19:56 on September 29th. Furthermore, it is recorded that the area "North Corridor" became available for cleaning at 19:56 on September 29th, as areas "202" and "203" have been exited.

[0036] In step S107, the processor 4 of the robot cleaning management device 1 selects a cleaning target. For example, the cleaning manager may select a cleaning target, or a cleaning target may be determined for each day of the week. For example, if the current day of the week is Tuesday and "bacteria" is determined as the cleaning target for Tuesday, "bacteria" is selected as the cleaning target.

[0037] In step S108, the processor 4 of the robot's cleaning management device 1 refers to the cleaning start waiting time table 6 to identify the cleaning start waiting time corresponding to the selected cleaning object, and sets the cleaning start time. In the cleaning start waiting time table of Fig. 6, the cleaning start waiting time corresponding to "bacteria" is identified as "20 minutes". As a result, the cleaning start time for area "202" and area "North Corridor" is set to September 29th, 20:16, which is 20 minutes after September 29th, 19:56.

[0038] In step S109, if the cleaning start time has arrived, the process proceeds to step S110.

[0039] In step S110, the processor 4 of the robot cleaning management device 1 transmits a cleaning start signal to the cleaning robot 11 through the communication device 3. For example, the cleaning start signal is transmitted to robot B in charge of cleaning the area "202" and robot D in charge of cleaning the area "north corridor."

[0040] In step S111, the cleaning robot 11 receives a cleaning start signal. For example, robot B and robot D receive the cleaning start signal.

[0041] In step S112, the cleaning robot 11 starts cleaning. For example, robot B and robot D start cleaning.

[0042] As described above, according to this embodiment, it is possible to cause the robot to start cleaning after the cleaning target floating in the air has fallen to the floor.

[0043] Embodiment 2 The processor 4 receives a security notification signal from the entrance / exit management system 12 or the home security system 14 via the communication device 3, notifying that the area has been set to security mode as a result of the last person leaving the area. The processor 4 causes the cleaning robot 11 to start cleaning the area at a time that is after the time when the security notification signal is received and that is a predetermined cleaning time before the expected time when the security mode will be released on the following day.

[0044] 8 is a flowchart showing a procedure for starting cleaning by the cleaning robot of embodiment 2. The procedure of embodiment 2 differs from the procedure of embodiment 1 in that step S207 is provided instead of steps S107 and S108.

[0045] In step S207, the processor 4 of the robot's cleaning management device 1 sets the cleaning start time to a time that is a specified cleaning time before the predicted time when the security set will be OFF (security mode deactivated) the next day. For example, the predicted time when the security set will be OFF the next day can be set to a predicted value of the earliest arrival time of a person who will be at work the next day. The predicted value of the earliest arrival time can be, for example, the average value of the earliest arrival times over the past few months, or the earliest earliest arrival time over the past few months. For example, if the specified cleaning time is 3 hours and the predicted time when the security set will be OFF the next day is 6:42, the cleaning start time is set to 3:42, three hours before.

[0046] As described above, according to the present embodiment, by delaying the cleaning start time of the cleaning robot 11 as long as possible, it is possible to increase the probability that the object to be cleaned that is floating in the air will have fallen to the floor at the cleaning start time.

[0047] Embodiment 3 Processor 4 receives a security notification signal from entrance / exit management system 12 or home security system 14 via communication device 3, notifying that the area has been set to security mode as a result of the last person leaving the area. After a waiting time corresponding to the object to be cleaned has elapsed from the time when the security notification signal was received, processor 4 activates cleaning robot 11 and starts cleaning the area.

[0048] 9 is a flowchart showing a procedure for starting cleaning by the cleaning robot of embodiment 3. The procedure of embodiment 3 differs from that of embodiment 1 in that steps S310 to S313 are provided instead of steps S110 to S112.

[0049] In step S310, the processor 4 of the robot cleaning management device 1 transmits an activation signal to the cleaning robot 11 through the communication device 3.

[0050] In step S311, the cleaning robot 11 receives an activation signal.

[0051] In step S312, the cleaning robot 11 starts up.

[0052] In step S313, the cleaning robot 11 starts cleaning.

[0053] In this embodiment, the cleaning robot 11 is started after the floating object to be cleaned has fallen to the floor, thereby preventing the floating object to be cleaned from being lifted up again by the fan of the cleaning robot 11 or the like while the floating object to be cleaned has fallen to the floor.

[0054] The above-described embodiment is a specific example of the following supplementary notes.

[0055] (Appendix 1) receiving, by a processor, an armed notification signal indicating that the area has been placed in armed mode due to a last person leaving the area; A robot cleaning management method comprising: a step in which the processor causes the robot to start cleaning the area after a waiting time corresponding to the object to be cleaned has elapsed from the time the security notification signal was received.

[0056] (Appendix 2) 2. The robot cleaning management method according to claim 1, wherein the waiting time is the time it takes for the floating object to be cleaned to fall to the floor.

[0057] (Appendix 3) 2. The method for managing cleaning of a robot according to claim 1, wherein the step of starting the cleaning includes a step in which the processor starts the robot after the waiting time has elapsed and then starts the cleaning.

[0058] (Appendix 4) receiving, by a processor, an armed notification signal indicating that the area has been placed in armed mode due to a last person leaving the area; The method for managing cleaning of a robot includes a step of making the processor start cleaning the area at a time after the time when the security notification signal is received and a predetermined cleaning time before the predicted time when the security mode is released on the next day.

[0059] (Appendix 5) A communication device; a processor that receives, via the communication device, a security notification signal notifying that the area has been set to a security mode as a result of a last person leaving the area; A robot cleaning management device, wherein the processor transmits a signal to the robot via the communication device to start cleaning the area after a waiting time corresponding to the object to be cleaned has elapsed from the time the security notification signal was received.

[0060] (Appendix 6) A communication device; a processor that receives, via the communication device, a security notification signal notifying that the area has been set to a security mode as a result of a last person leaving the area; The processor transmits a signal to the robot via the communication device to start cleaning the area at a time after the time the security notification signal is received and a specified cleaning time before the expected time of security mode release on the next day.

[0061] The embodiments disclosed herein should be considered to be illustrative and not restrictive in all respects. The scope of the present invention is defined by the claims, not the above description, and is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and scope of the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0062] 1 cleaning management device, 2 memory, 3 communication device, 4 processor, 5 cleaning start condition table, 6 cleaning start waiting time table, 7 indoor state DB, 11 cleaning robot, 12 entrance / exit management system, 13 lighting / air conditioning linked security set state DB, 14 home security system, 15 away mode state DB.

Claims

1. receiving, by a processor, an armed notification signal indicating that the area has been placed in armed mode due to a last person leaving the area; A robot cleaning management method comprising: a step in which the processor causes the robot to start cleaning the area after a waiting time corresponding to the object to be cleaned has elapsed from the time the security notification signal was received.

2. 2. The cleaning management method for a robot according to claim 1, wherein the waiting time is a time until the floating object to be cleaned falls to a floor.

3. The method for managing cleaning of a robot according to claim 1 , wherein the step of starting the cleaning includes a step of the processor starting the robot after the waiting time has elapsed and then starting the cleaning.

4. receiving, by a processor, an armed notification signal indicating that the area has been placed in armed mode due to a last person leaving the area; The method for managing cleaning of a robot includes a step of making the processor start cleaning the area at a time after the time when the security notification signal is received and a predetermined cleaning time before the predicted time when the security mode is released on the next day.

5. A communication device; a processor that receives, via the communication device, a security notification signal notifying that the area has been set to a security mode as a result of a last person leaving the area; A robot cleaning management device, wherein the processor transmits a signal to the robot via the communication device to start cleaning the area after a waiting time corresponding to the object to be cleaned has elapsed from the time the security notification signal was received.

6. A communication device; a processor that receives, via the communication device, a security notification signal notifying that the area has been set to a security mode as a result of a last person leaving the area; The processor transmits a signal to the robot via the communication device to start cleaning the area at a time after the time the security notification signal is received and a specified cleaning time before the expected time of security mode release on the next day.

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