Method for operating an automatically moving soil-working implement

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing soil cultivation devices, such as cleaning robots, often fail to ensure complete cleanliness as they operate independently of cleaning success, leading to residual dirt after completion.

Innovation Solution

A method where a user defines a reference status for the soil cultivation device, which compares the current processing status to a predefined target, ensuring continued operation until the desired cleanliness is achieved, with adjustable processing modes and intensities based on the type of soil and area, and the device can adapt its cleaning performance accordingly.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the cleaning device operates for a fixed predetermined time regardless of cleaning status, then the operation is simple and automated, but the cleaning quality is insufficient and dirt remains after completion

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecleaning qualityVSAvoidcontrol system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements feedback control by continuously detecting the cleaning status of the surface and comparing it against a reference status. The detection device monitors whether the surface has been sufficiently cleaned, and this information feeds back to the control device to determine whether to continue or stop the cleaning operation. This ensures high cleaning quality while maintaining automated operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If the cleaning device continuously operates until reference status is reached, then cleaning quality is improved, but energy consumption and processing time increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecleaning qualityVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The feedback mechanism allows the system to stop cleaning as soon as the reference status is achieved, avoiding unnecessary continuous operation. The control device receives real-time status information from the detection device and terminates the cleaning process promptly when the target cleanliness level is reached, thereby reducing energy consumption while maintaining high cleaning quality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The cleaning process is made dynamic by adjusting the operation duration based on actual cleaning status rather than using a fixed predetermined time. The system adapts its operation length to the specific cleaning requirements of each surface area, extending operation only as long as necessary to achieve the reference status, thus optimizing energy efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Use of energy by moving object

If the cleaning device operates for a fixed predetermined time, then energy consumption is controlled, but cleaning quality is insufficient and dirt remains

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenergy consumptionVSAvoidcleaning quality
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The feedback control system monitors cleaning status in real-time and adjusts operation duration accordingly. The detection device continuously assesses whether the surface meets the reference status, and this information feeds back to the control device to extend or terminate cleaning operations. This ensures that energy is consumed only as long as necessary to achieve adequate cleaning quality, avoiding both insufficient cleaning and unnecessary energy waste.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

4Reliability

If the user manually defines reference status and processing parameters, then cleaning quality is optimized for specific conditions, but ease of operation is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecleaning qualityVSAvoiduser setup complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system allows users to define specific processing parameters such as reference status thresholds, geometric shapes of areas to be cleaned, and processing modes tailored to different surface types and soiling conditions. By enabling parameter customization, the system optimizes cleaning quality for specific cleaning scenarios while maintaining automated execution, balancing user control with operational simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3441842B1Method for operating an automatically moving soil-working implement
Publication Date: 2021.05.19 VORWERK & CO INTERHOLDING GMBH
  • EP3441842B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3441842B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3441842B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for operating a self-propelled soil cultivation implement (1) within an environment, wherein the soil cultivation implement (1) performs cultivation of a defined, spatially limited area (2) of the environment, wherein a detection device (3) of the soil cultivation implement (1) measures the cultivation status of the area (2) during cultivation, wherein the cultivation status is compared with a defined reference status, and wherein cultivation of the area (2) continues until the defined reference status is reached. To improve the result of a soil cultivation operation, it is proposed that a user manually define the reference status and transmit it to the soil cultivation implement (1).