Auto Clean Machine Obstacle Height Detection for Adaptive Navigation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional auto clean machines, such as robot cleaners, lack the ability to determine whether obstacles on the ground can be climbed over or entered due to the positioning of their lidar sensors, leading to inefficient cleaning operations.
Innovation Solution
An auto clean machine equipped with a height computing device and an obstacle determining device, utilizing horizontal and vertical line light sources and an optical sensor to compute the height or overhang height of obstacles, allowing the machine to adjust its operation accordingly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If lidar is positioned on or in a higher position of the auto clean machine, then the lidar can detect obstacles, but it cannot detect obstacles which are on the ground and have a small size
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a new detection dimension by adding a downward-facing sensor (optical sensor or camera) that captures vertical cross-sectional images of obstacles. This complementary detection angle allows the system to perceive obstacle height and ground-level features that forward-facing lidars miss, resolving the contradiction between detection capability and adaptability to small ground obstacles
2Adaptability or versatility
If the auto clean machine computes height or overhang height of all detected obstacles, then it can operate based on height, but it consumes unnecessary energy when no obstacle is present
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements periodic detection cycles where the obstacle determining device first performs a quick scan to identify potential obstacles. Only when obstacles are detected does the height computing device activate to perform detailed height measurements. This periodic activation pattern reduces energy consumption while maintaining the capability to operate based on obstacle height when needed
Solution Approach 2:
The obstacle determining device performs preliminary detection before the height computing device is activated. This preliminary action filters out cases where no obstacles are present, preventing unnecessary activation of the energy-intensive height computing device and enabling height-based operation only when relevant
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enhances the convenience and accuracy of cleaning by enabling the machine to effectively navigate and operate based on the computed height or overhang height of obstacles, improving cleaning efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
an optical sensor, configured to sense first optical data generated by the vertical line light and to sense optical data generated by the horizontal line light
Data Source
AI summary
An auto clean machine comprising: a height computing device; and an obstacle determining device. The height computing device is turned on to compute a height or an overhang height of an obstacle when the obstacle determining device determines the obstacle exists in a predetermined region of the auto clean machine. The height computing device does not compute the height and the overhang height when the obstacle determining device does not determine the obstacle exists in the predetermined region.