Cleaning Robot Light-Spot Tracking for Easier Hidden Navigation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional cleaning robots require users to manually navigate them to specific locations, which is inconvenient, especially when the robot is hidden under furniture, and involves complex remote control operations.
Innovation Solution
A cleaning robot system that includes a remote controller capable of transmitting modulated infrared and visible light to guide the robot, allowing it to track a light spot and move automatically to designated positions, with built-in sensors for obstacle detection and path management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the user manually navigates the cleaning robot using a remote controller, then the robot can be moved to specific locations, but the operation becomes complex and inconvenient especially when the robot is hidden under furniture
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning robot automatically tracks the light spot projected by the remote controller and navigates to the designated location on its own, eliminating the need for the user to manually control the robot's movement. The robot's tracking system automatically detects and follows the light spot, making the system self-navigating rather than requiring continuous user intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
A visible light spot acts as an intermediary between the remote controller and the cleaning robot. The remote controller projects the light spot to indicate the destination, and the robot tracks this light spot to navigate. This light spot mediator simplifies the interaction by providing a clear visual target that the robot can automatically follow, replacing complex remote control operations.
2Loss of information
If the user directly checks and moves the cleaning robot to a particular location, then the robot can clean specific areas, but the user cannot find the robot when it is cleaning under sofas or beds
Solution Approach 1:
The remote controller projects a visible light spot that changes position based on the user's pointing direction. This light spot serves as a visual indicator that the user can easily track and point to, even when the robot is hidden under furniture. The visible light provides clear position information without requiring the user to physically locate the robot.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of requiring the user to find and track the robot's position, the system inverts the approach by having the remote controller project a visible light spot to the robot's location. The user simply follows or points to this visible light spot to indicate where the robot should go, making it unnecessary to physically locate the hidden robot.
3Extent of automation
If the cleaning robot uses automatic cleaning path navigation, then it can clean the area autonomously, but the user cannot easily redirect it to specific locations
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges the automatic cleaning path navigation with the light spot tracking functionality. The cleaning robot can operate autonomously following its programmed cleaning path, but when the user projects the light spot, the robot automatically switches to tracking mode and follows the light spot to the designated location. This combination allows both autonomous operation and easy user redirection without requiring separate control systems.
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
Enables convenient and efficient navigation of the cleaning robot to specific locations without user intervention, improving usability and reducing the complexity of remote control operations by using a light spot tracking mechanism with integrated sensors for obstacle avoidance.
Implementation Method 1
an infrared ray transmitter to transmit an infrared ray in accordance with the modulation signal
Implementation Method 2
a visible light transmitter to transmit visible light in order to form the light spot
Implementation Method 3
a plurality of infrared ray receivers to receive the infrared ray
Data Source
AI summary
A cleaning robot includes a navigator to move a main body, a remote controller to output a modulated infrared ray in accordance with a control command of a user and to form a light spot, a light receiver to receive the infrared ray from the remote controller, and a controller to control the navigator such that the main body tracks the light spot when the modulated infrared ray is received in accordance with the control command. Because the cleaning robot tracks a position indicated by the remote controller, a user may conveniently move the cleaning robot.