Docking device and mobile robot system

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing mobile robots face challenges in performing accurate voice recognition due to motor noise and resource consumption during cleaning operations, which deteriorate voice recognition performance.

Innovation Solution

A docking device equipped with a voice recognition module, including microphones, a charging terminal, and a controller, separates voice command extraction from the robot's operations, allowing for accurate voice recognition and reduced computational burden.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If voice recognition is performed using the robot cleaner's onboard terminal or microphone, then voice commands can be recognized during operation, but voice recognition performance deteriorates due to motor noise and operational interference

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevoice command controlVSAvoidvoice recognition accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The voice recognition function is separated from the robot cleaner's main body and assigned to an external terminal device. This segmentation isolates the voice recognition process from motor noise and operational interference, allowing accurate voice command recognition while the robot performs cleaning tasks.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

An external terminal device acts as an intermediary between the user and the robot cleaner. The terminal receives and processes voice commands, then transmits control signals to the robot, eliminating the need for onboard voice recognition hardware and avoiding noise interference.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Speed

If voice recognition processing is performed on the robot cleaner itself, then real-time control is possible, but computational resources are consumed during cleaning operations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresponse timeVSAvoidcomputational resource consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The computational burden of voice recognition is segmented away from the robot cleaner and transferred to an external terminal device. This allows the robot to maintain low power consumption during cleaning operations while still receiving timely control commands from the terminal.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The terminal device performs voice recognition processing independently without requiring the robot cleaner's computational resources. The robot simply executes commands received from the terminal, maintaining energy efficiency while enabling voice-controlled operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP3996565B1Docking device and mobile robot system
Publication Date: 2026.03.18 LG ELECTRONICS INC
  • EP3996565B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3996565B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3996565B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

The present disclosure discloses a docking device including a charging terminal, a power supply unit of supplying power to the charging terminal, a communication module of exchanging data with a mobile robot, a voice recognition module of collecting a voice and extracting a voice command from the collected voice, and a charging-station controller of controlling the communication module to transmit the voice command extracted from the voice recognition module to the mobile robot.