Cleaning Robot Map Interface for Region-Based State Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional cleaning robots lack intuitive state display and user interface capabilities, making it difficult for users to monitor and control their operations, especially in divided regions with varying obstacle arrangements.
Innovation Solution
A cleaning robot equipped with a user interface that displays a map image of divided regions, showing the robot's state through icons and animations, and allows users to set target points and virtual walls, enabling intuitive control and navigation within selected areas.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the cleaning robot operates autonomously without user manipulation, then productivity is improved, but the user cannot check the state of the cleaning robot, worsening information availability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism by displaying the cleaning robot's current position, state, and cleaning progress on a user terminal device. The controller transmits position information and state data (cleaning, charging, error states) to the terminal, allowing users to monitor the autonomous operation in real-time without interfering with productivity
Solution Approach 2:
The user terminal device serves as an intermediary between the cleaning robot and the user. It receives position and state information from the robot's controller and presents it in an intuitive format (map display with icons and animations), bridging the information gap while maintaining autonomous operation
2Loss of information
If the user directly controls the cleaning robot position using a remote controller, then the user can check and control the robot position, but ease of operation deteriorates due to manual intervention requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning robot performs self-navigation and self-positioning using its sensors and map data. The user simply designates a target region on the displayed map, and the robot autonomously determines its own path and executes the cleaning task without requiring continuous manual guidance, significantly improving ease of operation
3Productivity
If the cleaning robot cleans the entire space without region division, then productivity is maintained, but adaptability worsens when obstacle arrangements vary in divided regions
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning space is segmented into multiple virtual regions based on map data and obstacle information. The controller divides the cleaning task into region-specific sub-tasks, allowing the robot to adapt its cleaning path and strategy to the specific obstacle arrangements in each region while maintaining overall cleaning productivity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by customizing the cleaning approach for each divided region according to its specific characteristics (obstacle density, size, shape). The robot adjusts its navigation and cleaning parameters locally for each region rather than using a uniform approach, improving adaptability to varied obstacle arrangements
4Loss of information
If the user interface displays detailed real-time information, then information availability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The user terminal displays a simplified copy or representation of the cleaning space as a virtual map, with the robot's position and state represented by icons and animations. This graphical copy provides comprehensive information about robot location, cleaning progress, and status without requiring complex data presentations, maintaining interface simplicity while improving information availability
Data Source
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AI summary
A cleaning robot includes a user interface to display a map image including one or more divided regions, and the user interface displays an icon corresponding to a state value of a main device on the map image.