Camera-Guided Pool Cleaner Control for Complete Surface Coverage

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Solution Overview

Problem

Controlling and monitoring automated robotic pool cleaners to ensure all portions of a swimming pool surface are satisfactorily cleaned is a challenging task.

Innovation Solution

A pool cleaning system comprising a self-propelled cleaner with rotatably-mounted supports, a filter, an electric motor, cameras for imaging the pool surface, and a controller that generates control signals to direct the cleaner's movement based on cleanliness characteristics, along with a portable device for displaying uncleaned areas, allowing for efficient and thorough cleaning.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If automated robotic pool cleaners are used to clean pool surfaces, then cleaning efficiency is improved, but monitoring and control difficulty increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecleaning efficiencyVSAvoidcontrol and monitoring difficulty

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses cameras to capture images of the pool surface during cleaning, processes these images to determine cleanliness characteristics, and feeds this information back to the controller. The controller then adjusts the cleaner's movement path in real-time based on this feedback, ensuring thorough cleaning while maintaining automated operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces manual mechanical monitoring with automated electronic systems. Cameras and image processing algorithms substitute for human visual inspection, while electronic controllers replace manual steering mechanisms, transforming the system from mechanically-controlled to electronically-controlled operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Ease of operation

If manual cleaning methods are used, then control and monitoring is easier, but time consumption and labor effort increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontrol and monitoring easeVSAvoidtime consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The robotic cleaner is designed to autonomously navigate, clean, and self-monitor the pool surface. The system performs its own inspection through onboard cameras and self-adjusts its cleaning path without requiring manual intervention, enabling it to service itself during the cleaning process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

Manual cleaning operations are replaced with automated robotic systems equipped with electronic sensors and controllers. The mechanical action of manual sweeping and monitoring is substituted with automated navigation, electronic imaging, and computer-controlled cleaning mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Reliability

If comprehensive monitoring of all pool surfaces is implemented, then cleaning completeness is improved, but system complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecleaning completenessVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The robotic cleaner integrates multiple functions into a single device: cleaning mechanisms for debris removal, camera systems for surface inspection, image processing capabilities for cleanliness assessment, and navigation systems for path control. This multi-functional integration achieves comprehensive monitoring without proportionally increasing system complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously monitors the pool surface using cameras and processes the visual information to determine which areas have been adequately cleaned and which require additional attention. This feedback loop ensures complete coverage by automatically adjusting the cleaning path to address missed or insufficiently cleaned areas.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS11880207B2Pool cleaning system and method to automatically clean surfaces of a pool using images from a camera

Publication Date: 2024.01.23 ZODIAC POOL SYSTEMS LLC

AI summary

A pool cleaning system for cleaning debris from a submerged surface of a swimming pool includes a self-propelled pool cleaner having rotatably-mounted supports for supporting and guiding the cleaner on the pool surface; an electric motor for enabling the rotation of the rotatably-mounted supports on the pool surface; at least one camera to capture imagery of the pool surface; a controller, in electronic communication with the at least one camera, to determine a cleanliness characteristic of the pool surface on which the cleaner has passed based on the camera imagery and generate a control signal to direct movement of the cleaner based on the cleanliness characteristic of the pool surface, and a portable electronic device configured to present a graphic on a display, the graphic depicting the submerged surface of the pool and those portions of the surface that remain uncleaned as the cleaner traverses the pool surface.