Cleaning Robot Multi-Brush Switching for Automatic Surface Adaptation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing cleaning robots are limited to a single roller brush, which requires manual replacement for efficient cleaning of multi-material surfaces, and existing solutions lack automatic adaptation to different floor types.

Innovation Solution

A cleaning robot equipped with a roller brush assembly comprising at least two roller brushes, a detection assembly to identify surface type, and a control assembly to automatically switch between the brushes based on detected surface type, using sound or light waves for identification.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the cleaning robot moves at high speed to improve cleaning efficiency, then productivity increases, but the robot may collide with obstacles or fall down, worsening reliability

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecleaning efficiencyVSAvoidcollision and fall prevention
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The robot performs preliminary actions by predicting future positions and obstacles before actual movement occurs. The prediction unit calculates where the robot will be in the future based on current speed and direction, and identifies obstacles that will be in those future positions, allowing the robot to adjust its path proactively rather than reactively

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The control unit continuously receives feedback from the prediction unit about future collision risks and adjusts the robot's speed and direction in real-time. This closed-loop control ensures that the robot maintains high productivity while dynamically adapting to prevent collisions and falls

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Measurement precision

If the robot increases sensor coverage to improve detection accuracy, then measurement precision improves, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveobstacle detection accuracyVSAvoidsensor system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The imaging unit serves multiple functions: it detects obstacles, determines their locations, and provides data for prediction calculations. This multi-functional approach achieves comprehensive detection coverage without proportionally increasing system complexity, as a single imaging unit performs what would otherwise require multiple specialized sensors

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP3892176B1Cleaning robot, control method, and storage medium
Publication Date: 2026.04.29 MIDEA ROBOZONE TECH CO LTD
  • EP3892176B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2

AI summary

A cleaning robot (10), a control method, and a storage medium, the cleaning robot comprising a roller brush assembly (101), a roller brush switching assembly (102), a detection assembly (103), and a control assembly (104), the roller brush assembly (101) comprising at least two roller brushes; the detection assembly (103) is used for detecting the medium type of the surface to be cleaned and generating a signal on the basis of the detection result; and the control assembly (104) is used for controlling the roller brush switching assembly (102) on the basis of the signal of the detection assembly (103) to switch to at least one of the roller brushes amongst the at least two roller brushes for executing a cleaning operation.