Robot-assisted processing of a surface using a robot
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Autonomous mobile robots face inefficiencies in surface processing tasks, such as floor cleaning, due to incomplete coverage and increased processing time caused by the need to revisit already cleaned areas after encountering obstacles or dynamic changes in their environment.
Innovation Solution
The method involves breaking down the processing area into segments and dynamically adapting the cleaning pattern to detect and address unprocessed areas, allowing for real-time adjustments to the robot's path to ensure complete coverage without revisiting cleaned areas, using sensors and maps to monitor and plan efficient bypass routes around obstacles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the robot uses a systematic process pattern to clean the surface, then the processing efficiency is improved, but unprocessed areas may be left out due to obstacles or dynamic changes
Solution Approach 1:
The robot continuously monitors the cleaning status of the surface and compares it with the planned process pattern. When deviations are detected (unprocessed areas), the system provides feedback to dynamically adjust the robot path and reprocess the omitted areas, ensuring complete coverage while maintaining overall efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The robot transitions from a static, pre-planned process pattern to a dynamic adaptive system. The process pattern is continuously adjusted based on real-time detection of unprocessed areas, obstacles, and changes in the environment, allowing the robot to maintain both efficiency and complete coverage
2Reliability
If the robot revisits already processed surfaces to detect and clean omitted areas, then complete coverage is achieved, but the processing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The robot performs preliminary detection of unprocessed areas during the main cleaning process itself, rather than waiting until the end. By continuously monitoring and detecting omitted areas in real-time, the robot can address them immediately without needing to revisit areas, thus maintaining complete coverage while minimizing additional processing time
Solution Approach 2:
The cleaning action continues without interruption as the robot integrates detection and reprocessing into the main cleaning workflow. Instead of stopping to detect omitted areas and then separately revisiting them, the robot maintains continuous cleaning action by dynamically adjusting its path to cover unprocessed areas on the fly
3Device complexity
If the robot uses a simple random movement pattern, then the device complexity is reduced, but the processing efficiency and complete coverage deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning area is divided into a grid structure with defined path segments, providing a systematic framework that guides the robot's movement. This segmentation creates a balanced approach between simple random movement and complex systematic patterns, maintaining relatively low system complexity while improving processing efficiency and coverage
Solution Approach 2:
A systematic path pattern is preliminarily planned before the cleaning process begins, providing a structured guide for robot movement. This preliminary planning establishes an efficient baseline path while allowing for real-time adjustments, thus improving processing efficiency without requiring complex adaptive systems
Data Source
AI summary
A method for processing a surface of an area to be processed using an autonomous mobile robot. The method includes the steps of controlling the robot in order to process the area according to a first processing pattern, monitoring a region in the surroundings of the robot, wherein the region has a fixed position relative to the robot, and controlling the robot in order to process the area according to a second processing pattern if a reachable and unprocessed region is detected in the monitored region.