Cleaning robot and controlling method thereof

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing cleaning robots with wet cloth pads face inaccuracies in predicting contamination levels, leading to continued cleaning with deteriorated wet cloth pads, resulting in floor contamination or unnecessary washing notifications.

Innovation Solution

A cleaning robot equipped with a humidity sensor module around the wet cloth pad to detect ambient humidity, controlling the pad's rotation and the robot's motion to return to a docking station when humidity levels indicate contamination, adjusting reference humidity and rotation speed based on detected changes, and guiding pad replacement or washing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If cleaning robot uses travel distance to predict wet cloth pad contamination, then washing notification can be triggered, but measurement precision is low leading to inaccurate contamination detection

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontamination detection accuracyVSAvoiddetection system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical/travel-distance-based contamination prediction system with a humidity sensor-based detection system. The humidity sensor directly measures the humidity level around the wet cloth pad, providing accurate contamination detection without relying on indirect travel distance calculations. This substitution of detection method resolves the contradiction by achieving high measurement precision through a relatively simple sensor-based approach.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Productivity

If cleaning robot continues cleaning with deteriorated wet cloth pad, then productivity is maintained, but object-affected harmful factors increase causing floor contamination

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecleaning efficiencyVSAvoidfloor contamination

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the humidity sensor continuously monitors the humidity level around the wet cloth pad during cleaning operations. When the humidity exceeds a threshold indicating contamination, the system provides feedback to stop cleaning and trigger a washing notification. This feedback loop ensures that cleaning operations are halted before floor contamination occurs, resolving the contradiction between maintaining productivity and preventing harmful effects.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Reliability

If cleaning robot triggers washing notification for clean wet cloth pad, then reliability of notification system is improved, but loss of time occurs due to unnecessary washing

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewashing notification accuracyVSAvoidunnecessary washing time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The humidity sensor provides accurate real-time feedback on the actual contamination state of the wet cloth pad, enabling the system to trigger washing notifications only when truly needed. This eliminates false positives that would occur with travel-distance-based prediction, thereby improving notification reliability while preventing unnecessary washing operations and associated time loss.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

4Adaptability or versatility

If cleaning robot increases reference humidity threshold, then adaptability to different environments is improved, but measurement precision for contamination detection may decrease

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenvironmental adaptabilityVSAvoidcontamination detection accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a dynamic reference humidity threshold that can be adjusted based on environmental conditions, cleaning task requirements, and operational context. This dynamic adjustment allows the system to adapt to different environments while maintaining accurate contamination detection by setting appropriate thresholds for each situation, thus resolving the contradiction between adaptability and measurement precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

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

Enhances the efficiency of wet cleaning by accurately detecting pad contamination, preventing floor contamination, and optimizing cleaning operations based on real-time humidity conditions.

Implementation Method 1

a humidity sensor provided around the pad and configured to detect humidity around the pad

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHumidity detection: Hygrometer

Data Source

PatentUS12551075B2Cleaning robot and controlling method thereof

Publication Date: 2026.02.17 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD

AI summary

A cleaning robot includes: a main body; a motion driver provided in the main body and configured to move the main body; a pad motor provided in the main body and configured to rotate a pad provided on a lower surface of the main body; a humidity sensor provided around the wet cloth pad and configured to detect humidity around the wet cloth pad; and at least one processor configured to control the pad motor to stop rotating the wet cloth pad and control the motion driver to return the cleaning robot to a docking station, in response to determining that current humidity detected by the humidity sensor becomes lower than preset reference humidity while the motion driver and the pad motor are operating.