Detection of and response to obstructions within a cleaning channel of an autonomous vacuum system
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional autonomous cleaning systems face difficulties due to clogging in their cleaning channels, which impede airflow and lead to reduced functionality, requiring human intervention and significant user time to resolve, thus defeating the purpose of saving time and effort.
Innovation Solution
An autonomous vacuum system uses pressure sensors to detect obstructions in the cleaning channel by measuring pressure differentials and individual pressures, and responds by adjusting vacuum speed to attempt to clear the channel, such as ramping up to maximum speed and then reducing to normal speed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If the autonomous cleaning system operates continuously without human intervention, then user time and effort are saved, but the system may encounter clogs that reduce functionality and require human intervention
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-diagnosis by monitoring pressure sensor data to detect clogs, and executes self-repair by automatically increasing vacuum power to clear the obstruction, eliminating the need for human intervention and maintaining continuous operation
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors pressure sensor feedback from the cleaning channel, analyzes the data to detect clog conditions, and adjusts vacuum power accordingly to maintain functionality without human intervention
2Reliability
If the vacuum power is increased to clear clogs, then cleaning ability is restored, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system periodically monitors pressure sensor data and only increases vacuum power when clog conditions are detected, rather than operating at maximum power continuously, thus clearing obstructions when needed while minimizing energy consumption during normal operation
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically changes the vacuum power parameter based on real-time pressure sensor readings, increasing power only when clog conditions are detected and returning to normal power levels after clearing, optimizing the balance between cleaning ability and energy consumption
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
This solution enables the autonomous vacuum system to effectively detect and respond to clogs, maintaining its cleaning ability and reducing user intervention, thereby ensuring continuous operation and user satisfaction.
Implementation Method 1
Pressure sensors repeatedly measure pressure at different points in the cleaning channel
Implementation Method 2
computed pressure differentials across the pressure sensors
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is an autonomous vacuum system that detects and responds to obstructions in a cleaning channel of the vacuum. Pressure sensors repeatedly measure pressure at different points in the cleaning channel, and the autonomous vacuum system analyzes the pressure measurements to determine whether an obstruction is likely present. Such a determination may be made based on, e.g., computed pressure differentials across the pressure sensors, and/or pressures of individual pressures sensors. The autonomous vacuum system can respond to the detection of an obstruction by, for example, performing a change in vacuum speed, such as ramping up to or near a maximum speed, and then decreasing again to a more normal speed.