Application of localization, positioning and navigation systems for robotic enabled mobile products
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current robotic floor cleaners face limitations in cleaning reach and effectiveness due to their circular design, which restricts the size and configuration of the cleaning mechanism, and inefficient navigation strategies that lead to incomplete coverage and uneven cleaning of complex environments.
Innovation Solution
A robotic cleaner design where the cleaning apparatus forms a major part of the mobile platform, extending along the front and sides to reach walls and corners, with a flexible suspension system and advanced navigation using a combination of local and global positioning systems for systematic cleaning patterns.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the cleaning mechanism is designed to fit entirely within the footprint of the mobile robot platform, then the robot can be compact and easy to navigate, but the cleaning area covered is smaller and cannot reach walls and corners effectively
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning system is divided into two independent parts: a compact mobile robot platform for navigation and a separate, larger cleaning mechanism that can extend beyond the robot's footprint. This segmentation allows the cleaning mechanism to be optimized for coverage while the robot remains compact for navigation.
Solution Approach 2:
The cleaning mechanism is positioned in a different spatial dimension relative to the robot platform, extending outward from the robot body. This dimensional separation allows the cleaning mechanism to reach areas beyond the robot's immediate footprint, including walls and corners.
2Productivity
If the cleaning mechanism extends beyond the robot platform footprint, then cleaning reach to walls and corners is improved, but the robot becomes more complex and harder to navigate
Solution Approach 1:
By separating the cleaning mechanism from the mobile platform, the patent simplifies the robot's navigation function while allowing the cleaning mechanism to extend for improved reach. The segmentation isolates the complexity of the extended cleaning mechanism from the navigation system.
Solution Approach 2:
The cleaning mechanism is designed to be movable relative to the robot platform, allowing it to extend and retract as needed. This dynamic configuration enables the system to achieve extended cleaning reach only when necessary, maintaining simplicity during navigation phases.
3Ease of operation
If traditional random navigation strategies are used, then the robot can navigate simple environments, but cleaning coverage is incomplete and uneven in complex environments
Solution Approach 1:
The navigation system incorporates feedback from localization and positioning data to adjust the robot's path in real-time. This feedback mechanism enables the robot to systematically cover complex environments while maintaining relatively simple navigation logic.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary localization and mapping of the environment before executing the cleaning task. This preliminary action allows the robot to plan an efficient coverage path in advance, ensuring complete and even cleaning coverage in complex environments.
Data Source
AI summary
A robotic cleaner includes a cleaning assembly for cleaning a surface and a main robot body. The main robot body houses a drive system to cause movement of the robotic cleaner and a microcontroller to control the movement of the robotic cleaner. The cleaning assembly is located in front of the drive system and a width of the cleaning assembly is greater than a width of the main robot body. A robotic cleaning system includes a main robot body and a plurality of cleaning assemblies for cleaning a surface. The main robot body houses a drive system to cause movement of the robotic cleaner and a microcontroller to control the movement of the robotic cleaner. The cleaning assembly is located in front of the drive system and each of the cleaning assemblies is detachable from the main robot body and each of the cleaning assemblies has a unique cleaning function.