Performance-based cleaning robot charging method and apparatus
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cleaning robots lack an efficient method to determine the optimal charging time during mid-cleaning, leading to prolonged total cleaning times due to naive threshold-based charging strategies, which do not account for varying cleaning areas, modes, or battery aging.
Innovation Solution
The solution involves calculating the amount of charge needed based on the remaining area to be cleaned, incorporating factors such as cleaning mode, battery aging, and environmental factors like carpet vs. hard floors, and using a buffer to minimize mid-cleaning charging time, allowing the robot to resume cleaning with a reduced charge level.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a fixed threshold charging strategy is used, then the charging control is simple, but the total cleaning time is prolonged
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic charging threshold adjustment based on remaining cleaning area. The charging threshold is no longer fixed but varies according to the calculated remaining area, allowing the system to optimize charging timing dynamically. When remaining area is small, the threshold is lowered to enable earlier resumption of cleaning, directly improving cleaning efficiency while maintaining manageable system complexity through algorithmic adaptation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the charging threshold parameter dynamically based on remaining area calculations. Instead of using a constant threshold, the system adjusts the threshold parameter according to the ratio of remaining area to total area, enabling optimal charging decisions that balance battery recharging needs with cleaning productivity requirements.
2Reliability
If charging to maximum capacity is performed, then battery availability is maximized, but charging time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial charging action by determining the precise charge level needed based on remaining area calculations. Instead of always charging to maximum capacity, the system charges only to the threshold level sufficient for completing the remaining cleaning task, thereby reducing unnecessary charging time while maintaining adequate battery availability for task completion.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary calculation of the required charge level before initiating charging. By calculating the remaining area and determining the precise threshold needed in advance, the system avoids excessive charging and enables the robot to resume cleaning sooner, directly reducing loss of time while ensuring sufficient battery availability.
3Measurement precision
If battery aging is considered, then charging accuracy is improved, but calculation complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms by monitoring actual charge consumption during cleaning operations and using this data to refine remaining area calculations. The system continuously feeds back charging performance data to adjust and improve the accuracy of charge level predictions, accounting for battery aging effects while maintaining manageable calculation complexity through iterative refinement.
Data Source
AI summary
In one embodiment, a system and method is provided for optimizing the total time taken for cleaning an area by a cleaning robot, which is the sum of the cleaning time and the time taken for the robot to re-charge its battery mid-cleaning when the area is too large to clean on a single charge. In one embodiment, the remaining area to be cleaned is determined, and the mid-cleaning re-charge time is reduced to the amount of charge needed to clean the remaining area, plus a buffer. Hence, a reduction in mid-cleaning charging time results in reduced total time taken to clean a given space.