Cleaning robot and method for controlling cleaning robot
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional cleaning robots face difficulties in intuitively displaying the structure of a house and the position of the robot, making it hard for users to recognize the robot's state and position, especially when it is under obstacles like sofas or beds, and require manual operation to move the robot to specific locations, which is inconvenient.
Innovation Solution
A cleaning robot that generates and displays a simplified map by analyzing the structure of the space, segmenting it into recognizable areas, and using preset figures to create a user-friendly map image, allowing easy recognition of the robot's position and facilitating remote control commands.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If a conventional map including obstacle information is displayed, then the whole structure of the house can be shown, but the user has difficulty in intuitively recognizing the structure of the house and the position of the cleaning robot
Solution Approach 1:
The map is segmented into multiple simplified regions representing different functional areas (e.g., living room, bedroom, kitchen) rather than displaying the entire detailed house structure. Each segment is represented by simple geometric shapes that are easily recognizable, allowing users to intuitively understand the house layout and robot position without being overwhelmed by excessive detail.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of copying the exact complex real-world house structure, the system creates a simplified abstract representation that captures the essential spatial relationships and functional areas. This simplified map copy retains the necessary information for user understanding while eliminating unnecessary complexity.
2Ease of operation
If the cleaning robot is moved to a particular position using a remote controller, then the robot can reach the desired location, but the user experiences inconvenience of personally operating movements and has difficulty finding the robot when it is cleaning under furniture
Solution Approach 1:
The simplified map provides real-time visual feedback showing the cleaning robot's current position and status. Users can see exactly where the robot is located and what it is doing without needing to physically search for it under furniture. This feedback mechanism eliminates the time loss associated with finding the robot and makes positioning operations more efficient.
3Loss of information
If a detailed map with obstacle information is used, then complete spatial information is provided, but the visibility and ease of recognition for users is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts and separates obstacle information from the main map display. Obstacles are represented as simple geometric shapes positioned within their respective regional segments, rather than cluttering the entire map. This extraction allows complete obstacle information to be conveyed while maintaining high map visibility and ease of recognition through clean, uncluttered visual presentation.
Data Source
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AI summary
A cleaning robot is provided. The cleaning robot includes a sensor configured to sense obstacle information, and a controller configured to generate a map based on sensed values obtained by the sensor, analyze a structure of the generated map by detecting a region segmentation point from the map, and generate a map image based on an analysis result.