AI Cleaning Robot Vision Control for Situational Awareness
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current mobile cleaning robots lack situational awareness, failing to adapt their cleaning operations based on the dynamic environment and user preferences, leading to inefficient cleaning and potential interference with daily activities.
Innovation Solution
A mobile cleaning robot equipped with artificial intelligence, featuring a camera system, recognition module, and control module that uses neural networks to recognize objects, adapt cleaning modes, and schedule tasks based on environmental changes and user preferences, including the presence of people, pets, and foot traffic patterns.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the robot performs thorough cleaning in all areas, then cleaning quality is improved, but it may interfere with user activities and cause loss of time
Solution Approach 1:
The robot dynamically adjusts its cleaning behavior based on real-time environmental recognition. When objects like chairs or user activities are detected, the robot modifies its cleaning path and intensity accordingly, transitioning between different cleaning modes to balance thoroughness with user convenience
Solution Approach 2:
The robot uses camera-based object recognition to continuously monitor the environment and provides feedback to its control system. This feedback loop enables the robot to adapt its cleaning operations in real-time, avoiding areas where users are active or objects need to remain undisturbed
2Productivity
If the robot adapts to dynamic environment and user preferences, then cleaning efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The robot autonomously performs environmental assessment, object recognition, and cleaning plan adjustment without user intervention. The system self-adapts to changing conditions by automatically recognizing objects and modifying its behavior, reducing the need for complex user-programming interfaces
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical obstacle avoidance sensors with vision-based object recognition systems. This substitution enables more sophisticated environmental understanding and adaptive behavior while maintaining a relatively simple physical structure
3Device complexity
If the robot uses traditional cleaning operations, then device complexity is kept low, but it cannot respond to environmental changes and user needs
Solution Approach 1:
The robot integrates multiple functions into a single system: navigation, object recognition, environmental mapping, and adaptive cleaning control all work together within one platform. The camera system serves multiple purposes including obstacle detection, object identification, and environmental monitoring
4Ease of operation
If the robot cleans without situational awareness, then ease of operation is maintained, but cleaning effectiveness decreases due to inability to avoid obstacles and adapt to conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The robot autonomously performs environmental assessment, object recognition, and cleaning plan adjustment without user intervention. The system self-adapts to changing conditions by automatically recognizing objects and modifying its behavior, reducing the need for complex user-programming interfaces
Data Source
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AI summary
A mobile cleaning robot includes a cleaning head configured to clean a floor surface in an environment, and at least one camera having a field of view that extends above the floor surface. The at least one camera is configured to capture images that include portions of the environment above the floor surface. The robot includes a recognition module is configured to recognize objects in the environment based on the images captured by the at least one camera, in which the recognition module is trained at least in part using the images captured by the at least one camera. The robot includes a storage device is configured to store a map of the environment. The robot includes a control module configured to control the mobile cleaning robot to navigate in the environment using the map and operate the cleaning head to perform cleaning tasks taking into account of the objects recognized by the recognition module.