Cleaning Robot Station LED Display for Multi-Robot Status Monitoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users of cleaning robot stations face challenges in maintaining an overview of the number and status of multiple cleaning robots assigned to the station, including their operational status and energy supply needs.
Innovation Solution
A station equipped with a display of LEDs and a control device that subdivides the display into segments, assigning colors to each segment based on the status of the cleaning robots, allowing users to easily visualize the number and status of cleaning robots using a traffic light-like principle, with the ability to adapt to varying numbers of robots and detect malfunctioning units.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If multiple cleaning robots are assigned to a station, then the cleaning capacity and productivity increase, but the complexity of managing and monitoring the robots increases
Solution Approach 1:
The display is divided into multiple segments, with each segment corresponding to a specific cleaning robot. This segmentation allows the system to visually represent multiple robots and their individual statuses simultaneously, making it easier to manage and monitor a fleet of robots without increasing operational complexity
Solution Approach 2:
Different colors are used to indicate different statuses of cleaning robots (e.g., green for active, red for charging, yellow for cleaning). This color-coding system provides immediate visual feedback about the state of each robot, enabling users to quickly understand the status of multiple robots at a glance without complex interfaces
2Loss of information
If a display system is added to show robot status, then the overview and monitoring capability improve, but the cost and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using complex sensors, processors, and communication systems to continuously monitor and display robot statuses, the invention uses simple LED indicators that directly reflect the robot states. Each robot has its status copied visually through corresponding LEDs, providing comprehensive monitoring with minimal added complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit serves multiple functions: it manages the cleaning robots, controls the display segments, and regulates the LED indicators. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated components for each function, thereby limiting the increase in overall system complexity while maintaining comprehensive status monitoring
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 users to manage their fleet of cleaning robots effectively and efficiently, providing a clear and cost-effective means to monitor the status and number of robots, facilitating better operational control and maintenance.
Implementation Method 1
a display with a plurality of LEDs
Data Source
Figure 1~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
The invention relates to a station (1) for cleaning robots (2a-2d) to which several cleaning robots (2a-2d) can be assigned for cleaning and/or powering them, comprising: - a display (3) with a plurality of LEDs (5), and - a control device configured to divide the display (3) into segments depending on the number of cleaning robots (2a-2d) assigned to the station (1), to assign to each segment a portion of the plurality of LEDs (5) and to each cleaning robot (2a-2d), and to assign to each segment a color from a plurality of predetermined colors depending on the status of the cleaning robot (2a-2d) assigned to it, in which the respective segment lights up, wherein each color of the plurality of predetermined colors is assigned to a status from a plurality of statuses in which the cleaning robots (2a-2d) can be.