Control of a soil working machine
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users face difficulties in accurately determining the area being processed by autonomous soil cultivation machines, such as vacuum cleaners, during spot cleaning, as it is unclear where the cleaning begins and ends, leading to potential under or over cleaning.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a control device that detects a request for local cleaning, projects boundary indications onto the floor surface using a projector, and starts processing once a predetermined time of inactivity is detected, allowing users to adjust the area interactively by changing the machine's position, thereby ensuring precise area control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If a universal display or conventional control panel is used to show the cleaning area, then the user can see the area boundaries, but the device complexity increases and the ease of operation decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses the floor surface itself as an intermediary medium to display the cleaning area boundaries through projected light patterns. This eliminates the need for separate display devices or control panels, as the boundaries are directly visualized on the floor where the cleaning will occur. The projector acts as a simple intermediary that transfers boundary information from the control device to the user's visual field without adding complex display hardware.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces mechanical or electronic display systems (screens, panels, buttons) with an optical projection system. Instead of using a conventional display device that would require additional hardware, power consumption, and user interaction, the system uses light projection to create visible boundaries directly on the cleaning surface, simplifying the overall device architecture.
2Extent of automation
If the cleaning area is predefined and fixed, then the machine can operate autonomously, but the adaptability to user needs and area adjustments is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic area definition by allowing the cleaning boundaries to be adjusted in real-time based on user needs. The projection system can modify the size, shape, and position of the displayed boundaries, and the control device can recalculate autonomous navigation paths accordingly. This dynamic adaptability maintains autonomous operation while providing flexibility for different cleaning scenarios and user preferences.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3
AI summary
A method for controlling a machine for processing a floor surface comprises steps of detecting a request for local cleaning on an area of the floor surface; projecting an indication of the boundaries of a planned area onto the floor surface; detecting an acknowledgment of the area; and starting the processing of the area within the boundaries; the acknowledgment being determined if no predetermined operator input has been detected for a predetermined time.