Control apparatus for a cleaning robot
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing robot cleaners face challenges in efficiently navigating and cleaning areas due to obstacles and varying floor conditions, often resulting in incomplete cleaning tasks and user inconvenience, as they lack advanced mapping and scheduling capabilities.
Innovation Solution
A control apparatus for a robot cleaner that includes a user interface unit for receiving user commands, a controller for generating and editing cleaning area maps, and a communicator for downloading or generating maps from an external server, allowing for schedule setting and editing based on the robot's state and cleaning history data, enabling adaptive cleaning operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If robot cleaners perform random cleaning while driving by itself, then the robot cleaner can operate autonomously, but an area in which the cleaning cannot be cleaned may occur due to the presence of obstacles and floor surface conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary mapping of the cleaning area before actual cleaning operations. The controller generates a cleaning map that identifies accessible areas and obstacles in advance, allowing the robot to plan its cleaning path to ensure complete coverage without missing areas due to unexpected obstacles
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously compares the actual cleaning area with the generated cleaning map during operation. When discrepancies are detected (areas that cannot be cleaned), the system provides feedback to update the cleaning map and adjust the cleaning path, ensuring complete cleaning coverage while maintaining autonomous operation
2Reliability
If the cleaning is performed by dividing all the areas to be cleaned into a plurality of cleaning areas or cells, then the cleaning coverage is improved, but the device complexity increases due to map generation and area division
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning area is automatically segmented into multiple cleaning areas or cells based on obstacle detection and floor surface conditions. The controller divides the overall cleaning task into sub-tasks for each segment, ensuring complete coverage while managing complexity through systematic organization of cleaning zones
Solution Approach 2:
The robot cleaner performs self-mapping and automatic area division without external intervention. The controller autonomously generates the cleaning map and segments the cleaning areas based on sensor data, eliminating the need for manual map creation or complex external coordination systems
3Adaptability or versatility
If users cannot edit or manage cleaning maps and schedules, then the system is simpler to manufacture, but user convenience and adaptability to environmental changes are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The control apparatus provides multiple functions including map generation, map editing, schedule creation, and schedule modification through a unified user interface. This multi-functional approach allows users to manage both cleaning maps and schedules, enhancing adaptability while consolidating features into a single system rather than adding separate complex subsystems
Data Source
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AI summary
A control apparatus of a robot cleaner may comprises a user interface unit configured to receive a user command controlling the robot cleaner; a controller configured to generate a control signal to receive a map of a cleaning area, based on the user command; and a communicator configured to receive the map of the cleaning area from an external server or the robot cleaner, based on the control signal. In accordance with one aspect of a robot cleaner, the control apparatus of the robot cleaner, control system, and control method of robot cleaner, it may be possible to download or generate a map of a cleaning area and to allow a map editing to be performed by a user. In addition, it may be possible to set and edit a cleaning schedule, e.g., priority of cleaning area, a cleaning time, and a cleaning period. When setting the cleaning schedule, it may be possible to provide a function of recommending a cleaning schedule based on cleaning history data. In accordance with one aspect of the robot cleaner, the control apparatus of the robot cleaner, control system, it may be possible to automatically determine whether the environment is changed or whether the cleaning is available, during the robot cleaner performs the cleaning, and it may be possible to actively deal with this. In addition, it may be possible to improve the user convenience of the robot cleaner by providing a user interface.