Cleaning robot
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cleaning robots face challenges in adapting to diverse floor surfaces and contaminants, leading to suboptimal cleaning performance and potential damage due to inability to sense and manage various cleaning environments effectively.
Innovation Solution
A cleaning robot equipped with a sensing unit, processor, and cleaning module changing unit that uses cameras, floor sensors, odor sensors, and liquid sensors to assess floor surfaces and contaminants, selecting appropriate cleaning modules and methods for optimal cleaning, while also managing trash bins by adjusting internal modules and communicating with servers or other robots.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a cleaning robot uses a single fixed cleaning module, then the device complexity is reduced, but the adaptability to different floor surfaces and contaminants deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning robot employs a dynamic cleaning module selection mechanism where the processor controls different cleaning modules (brush, suction, wet cleaning) based on real-time sensor feedback about floor surface characteristics and contaminant types, allowing the system to adapt its cleaning approach dynamically rather than using a fixed single-module design
Solution Approach 2:
The cleaning robot integrates multiple cleaning modules with different functions (dry brushing, suction, wet cleaning) into a single system, enabling one device to handle various floor surfaces and contaminant types universally rather than requiring separate specialized devices
2Measurement precision
If the cleaning robot uses multiple sensors to sense contaminants, then the measurement precision of contaminant characteristics is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning robot combines multiple sensing functions (visual detection via camera, chemical detection via odor sensor, moisture detection via liquid sensor) into an integrated sensing system that works together under unified processor control, merging multiple detection capabilities into a coordinated measurement system
3Productivity
If the cleaning robot adapts cleaning modules in real-time based on sensor data, then the cleaning performance is improved, but the response time and control complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning robot performs preliminary sensing of floor surface characteristics and contaminant types before initiating the cleaning operation, allowing the processor to pre-select the appropriate cleaning module and configure optimal cleaning parameters in advance, reducing response time during actual cleaning execution
Solution Approach 2:
The cleaning robot implements a feedback control system where sensors continuously monitor cleaning effectiveness and environmental conditions, and the processor adjusts cleaning module selection and parameters in real-time based on this feedback, optimizing cleaning performance while maintaining rapid response through learned patterns
Data Source
AI summary
A cleaning robot according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises: a traveling motor configured to generate a driving force for traveling; a cleaning module changing unit configured to selectively activate any one of at least one cleaning module; a sensing unit configured to sense characteristics of a floor surface; and a processor configured to perform a cleaning operation of cleaning the floor surface by controlling the cleaning module changing unit to activate any one of the at least one cleaning module based on the sensed characteristics of the floor surface, wherein the processor is configured to: sense characteristics of a contaminant present on the floor surface by using the sensing unit while performing the cleaning operation; and control the cleaning module changing unit to change or maintain the activated cleaning module based on the sensed characteristics of the contaminant.