Cleaning robot capable of recognizing floor type
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cleaning robots struggle to accurately distinguish between flat floors and carpets with short or long hairs, leading to improper adjustment of suction and wiping components, which affects cleaning performance.
Innovation Solution
The cleaning robot employs multiple light sources and sensors, including a first light source for dark field effect, multiple light sources for identifying carpet type, and a time-of-flight sensor for distance measurement, to recognize different floor types.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If ultrasonic sensors are used to recognize floor type, then the device complexity is reduced, but the measurement precision deteriorates because it cannot accurately distinguish carpet with short hairs from flat floor
Solution Approach 1:
The detection function is segmented into multiple specialized sensors: a first light source with image sensor for dark field effect detection of short hairs, and a second light source with time-of-flight sensor for long hairs detection. This segmentation allows each sensor to specialize in detecting specific carpet types that ultrasonic sensors cannot distinguish.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces ultrasonic sensors (acoustic field) with optical sensors (light field) for floor type detection. The optical detection system provides superior precision in distinguishing different floor types including carpet with short hairs, which ultrasonic sensors cannot accurately detect.
2Measurement precision
If multiple light sources and sensors are added to accurately recognize all floor types, then the measurement precision improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The detection system is divided into specialized modules: first light source for dark field effect on short hairs, second light source for long hairs, with corresponding image sensor and time-of-flight sensor. Each module targets specific detection needs, achieving high precision without requiring a single complex universal sensor.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a reflection surface as an intermediary element that works with the second light source to detect carpet with long hairs. This intermediary enables the detection of long hairs by reflecting light in a controlled manner, adding detection capability without significantly increasing overall system complexity.
3Device complexity
If the cleaning robot uses conventional sweeping function only, then the device complexity is low, but the adaptability deteriorates as it cannot handle different floor types effectively
Solution Approach 1:
The robot performs preliminary detection of floor type using multiple light sources and sensors before initiating cleaning operations. This preliminary action allows the robot to identify the working surface type (flat floor, carpet with short/long hairs) and pre-adjust cleaning parameters such as suction force and wiping component height, ensuring optimal performance across different floor types.
Solution Approach 2:
The cleaning robot dynamically adjusts its cleaning parameters based on detected floor type. The system transitions from static conventional sweeping to dynamic adaptive cleaning, where suction force increases on carpets, wiping component height adjusts, and cleaning mode changes according to real-time floor type recognition results.
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 precise identification of flat floors, carpets with short and long hairs, allowing the robot to adjust suction and wiping components accordingly for optimal cleaning performance.
Implementation Method 1
use a dark field effect to recognize a flat floor and a carpet with short hairs
Implementation Method 2
receive scattered light of the main projection light beam illuminating the working surface
Implementation Method 3
The time-of-flight sensor is configured to measure a distant from the working surface
Implementation Method 4
The second light source is configured to project a linear light section toward the working surface
Implementation Method 5
receive reflected light of the reflection surface that reflects an emission light beam of the second light source
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided a cleaning robot including a first optical detection path, a second optical detection path and a processor. The first optical detection path is used to distinguish a flat floor and a carpet with short hairs using the dark field effect. The second optical detection path is used to detect a carpet with long hairs and/or a length of carpet hairs. The processor controls the cleaning robot to perform different application functions according to the recognized type of a working surface.