Displaying a dynamically changing wet clean path of an autonomous floor cleaner
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing autonomous floor cleaners lack the ability to dynamically display wet areas on a cleaning map, making it difficult for users to navigate and avoid wet surfaces effectively.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for displaying a dynamically changing wet clean path on a mobile device or autonomous floor cleaner, using a mobile device with a display screen, memory, and communication module to show the wetness estimation and expected drying time of cleaned areas, allowing real-time updates based on flow rate, floor type, and cleaning solution characteristics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If the autonomous floor cleaner displays a static cleaning map, then the device complexity is low, but the user cannot obtain real-time information about wet areas for safe navigation
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning map transitions from a static display to a dynamic display that automatically updates wet area locations as the cleaner moves. The system continuously receives position data from the autonomous cleaner and recalculates wet area positions based on the cleaner's current location and cleaning path, providing real-time information without requiring complex manual updates
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates a virtual copy of the cleaning environment on the display device, representing wet areas through visual indicators on the map. This digital representation allows users to view wet area information remotely without adding physical sensors or markers to the actual cleaning environment
2Reliability
If the system provides detailed real-time wet area tracking, then user safety is improved, but the loss of time for processing and displaying data increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-calculates wet area positions and displays them proactively on the map before the user needs to navigate. By continuously updating the display in the background based on cleaner position data, the system ensures safety information is already available when the user needs it, eliminating delays in information delivery
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements a feedback loop where the display continuously receives position information from the autonomous cleaner and automatically updates wet area locations. This closed-loop system ensures real-time accuracy without requiring manual intervention, maintaining safety while optimizing data processing efficiency through automated updates
Data Source
AI summary
Display of a wet cleaning routine of an autonomous floor cleaning robot is provided. Estimated wetness of areas of the floor can be tracked and displayed to the user so they can avoid walking on those areas of the floor until sufficiently dried. The areas of the map that that are still wet from cleaning can be displayed and transition to a different type of indicia over time as the floor dries. The wet floor status can be tracked with a timer by comparing elapsed time since the autonomous floor cleaner traversed the subject region and dispensed cleaning solution with an estimated drying time for cleaning solution on the floor. The estimated drying time can be based upon the flow rate of the autonomous floor cleaner.