Environmental Imaging for Cleaning Activity Tracking
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cleaning devices lack interactive experiences to motivate users and effectively track cleaning activities in physical environments, particularly due to the inability to define and track areas of varying shapes, sizes, and dimensions.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of environmental imaging and graphical mapping systems that use sensors to generate data for digital mapping of target areas, incorporating augmented and virtual reality to incentivize cleaning tasks and track progress through graphical representations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If existing cleaning devices are used to track cleaning activities, then cleaning monitoring is achieved, but user motivation and engagement are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides real-time visual feedback through graphical mappings that display cleaned areas versus remaining areas, allowing users to see immediate progress. This feedback mechanism motivates users by showing tangible results of their cleaning efforts, transforming a tedious task into an engaging activity with visible accomplishments.
Solution Approach 2:
The graphical mapping uses color changes to indicate different states of the cleaning area. Cleaned regions are displayed in one color while uncleaned regions are displayed in another color, providing intuitive visual feedback that enhances user engagement and motivation throughout the cleaning process.
2Adaptability or versatility
If traditional methods are used to define cleaning areas, then areas with varying shapes and sizes can be identified, but tracking and monitoring becomes ineffective
Solution Approach 1:
The system creates a digital copy or representation of the physical cleaning area through graphical mapping. This digital model accurately replicates the area's shape, size, and boundaries, enabling precise tracking and monitoring while maintaining the flexibility to handle any area configuration without requiring standardized geometries.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from two-dimensional area identification to three-dimensional spatial mapping by incorporating depth information. This allows the system to accurately represent and track cleaning progress in complex environments with varying shapes and sizes by adding the vertical dimension to the mapping representation.
3Loss of information
If sensors are used to map the environment, then a digital representation is generated, but the complexity of the system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs a multi-functional sensor suite where a single sensor array performs multiple tasks: environmental mapping, cleaning area identification, progress tracking, and boundary definition. This universal approach reduces overall system complexity by consolidating functions into a single integrated platform rather than requiring separate specialized devices for each function.
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
This solution provides real-time tracking and monitoring of cleaning progress, enhances user engagement through gamification and virtual incentives, and effectively manages cleaning tasks across diverse environmental areas.
Implementation Method 1
obtaining a plurality of environmental images captured by a sensor
Implementation Method 2
generate data (e.g., such as LiDAR data) to automatically map the environment
Data Source
AI summary
Environmental imaging and graphical mapping systems and methods are disclosed herein for tracking cleaning activity in a physical environment is disclosed. A sensor captures environmental image(s) depicting at least a portion of a target area in the physical environment. A graphical mapping of the target area is generated. The graphical mapping region(s) define the target area. A position value is detected that corresponds to a physical position of a cleaning implement within the target area. The graphical mapping is updated to indicate that a region has a clean status. A graphical user interface (GUI) displays a graphical mapping of the target area that visually indicates that the region has the clean status.