Autonomous Cleaning Robot Triggered by Pet Area Activity

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Pet owners face challenges in maintaining cleanliness of pet areas, such as litter boxes, dog doors, and bird cages, due to the accumulation of pet debris, which can spread to other parts of the house, increasing household cleaning burdens.

Innovation Solution

An autonomous cleaning robot equipped with sensors to detect pet activity, a cleaning assembly, and a controller that navigates to pet areas to execute cleaning missions, including vacuuming and mopping, with adjustable vacuum power levels and mission parameters based on the type of pet area, to efficiently clean and reduce debris dispersal.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If manual cleaning of pet areas is performed, then cleaning can be done when needed, but it increases the burden on pet owners and may not be timely

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecleaning efficiencyVSAvoidowner burden

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The cleaning system performs cleaning tasks autonomously without human intervention. Sensors detect pet activity and automatically trigger the cleaning robot to navigate to and clean the pet area, eliminating the need for owners to manually monitor and clean pet areas.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses sensors to continuously monitor pet activity and debris presence, providing feedback that triggers automated cleaning responses. This closed-loop system ensures cleaning is performed timely based on actual conditions rather than fixed schedules.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Productivity

If cleaning is delayed, then energy and resources are conserved, but pet debris accumulates and spreads to other areas

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecleaning speedVSAvoiddebris dispersal

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs cleaning actions immediately upon detecting pet activity or debris, preventing debris from spreading to other areas. The automated detection and response system ensures cleaning happens at the optimal moment before contamination spreads.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

Real-time sensor monitoring provides immediate feedback on debris presence, triggering prompt cleaning responses that prevent debris dispersal while optimizing resource usage by cleaning only when necessary.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Reliability

If vacuum power is increased to handle pet debris, then cleaning effectiveness improves, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecleaning effectivenessVSAvoidvacuum power consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies vacuum power selectively based on detected conditions. Sensors identify areas with pet debris and trigger appropriate vacuum power levels, avoiding full-power operation in all areas and reducing overall energy consumption while maintaining cleaning effectiveness where needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts vacuum power parameters based on detected pet activity and debris types. Different power levels are applied according to the specific cleaning situation, optimizing the balance between cleaning effectiveness and energy consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

4Loss of time

If the cleaning robot navigates to pet areas immediately upon detection, then cleaning timeliness improves, but navigation time and energy are consumed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecleaning response timeVSAvoidnavigation energy

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system pre-loads navigation routes to known pet areas and uses predictive algorithms to anticipate when cleaning will be needed, reducing actual navigation time when cleaning is triggered while avoiding unnecessary navigation to areas that don't require cleaning.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

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

The autonomous cleaning robot promptly and efficiently cleans pet areas, reducing the burden on owners and minimizing debris tracking into other parts of the house, thereby enhancing overall household cleanliness.

Implementation Method 1

a suction system having a suction head positioned at a bottom of the housing and in communication with the vacuum source

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSuction: Suction

Implementation Method 2

a spray system having a spray head positioned at the bottom of the housing and in communication with the liquid reservoir

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSpray: Spray

Data Source

PatentUS10463217B1Cleaning of pet areas by autonomous cleaning robots

Publication Date: 2019.11.05 IROBOT CORP

AI summary

An autonomous cleaning robot includes a drive operable to move the autonomous cleaning robot across a floor surface; a cleaning assembly configured to clean the floor surface; a receiver configured to receive an indication of cat activity in a cat box; and a controller configured to navigate the autonomous cleaning robot to the cat box to execute a cleaning mission in response to the received indication of cat activity.