Application of localization, positioning & 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
1Ease of operation
If the cleaning mechanism is contained within the circular footprint of the mobile robot platform, then the robot maintains good mobility and stability, but the cleaning reach and effectiveness are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning robot is divided into two main segments: a compact mobile robot platform that provides mobility and navigation, and a separate extendable cleaning mechanism that can be deployed outward from the platform. This segmentation allows the platform to maintain its compact circular design for good mobility while the cleaning mechanism can extend to increase cleaning reach and coverage area.
2Area of moving object
If the cleaning mechanism extends beyond the robot platform, then cleaning reach improves, but the robot requires complex suspension systems to maintain contact with the floor
Solution Approach 1:
A flexible extension mechanism acts as an intermediary between the mobile robot platform and the cleaning mechanism. This extension can be made of flexible materials or contain flexible joints that allow the cleaning mechanism to maintain contact with the floor while extending beyond the platform boundaries, eliminating the need for complex active suspension systems.
3Ease of operation
If random navigation strategy is used, then the robot can navigate simple environments, but coverage is incomplete and cleaning is uneven in complex environments
Solution Approach 1:
The navigation system incorporates feedback mechanisms including sensors that detect obstacles, walls, and cleaning progress, along with onboard processors that use this information to dynamically adjust the navigation path. This feedback loop enables the robot to transition from random navigation to systematic coverage patterns, ensuring complete and uniform cleaning coverage in complex environments while maintaining ease of navigation.
Data Source
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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.