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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing floor-working robots require manual transportation for maintenance and service, which can lead to contamination of the floor area due to leaking cleaning agents, falling dirt, or other issues, and existing solutions do not effectively manage the separation of charging and waste disposal positions.
Innovation Solution
A robot system that includes a movement unit and a processing unit, capable of detecting operating states and moving to predetermined positions for maintenance or waste disposal without disrupting floor cleaning, with optical or detectable markers indicating specific positions for charging and waste management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the robot moves manually for maintenance and service, then the robot can be transported to different locations, but the floor surface may become contaminated due to leaking cleaning agents, fallen debris, or other issues
Solution Approach 1:
The robot autonomously navigates to predetermined positions for maintenance and service operations. The control unit detects when maintenance is needed and automatically moves the robot to the appropriate location, eliminating the need for manual transport that could cause floor contamination.
2Quantity of substance
If the robot is equipped with a container for collecting dirt, then the processing unit can accumulate debris, but the container needs to be emptied periodically which requires external intervention
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit monitors the fill level of the container and automatically navigates the robot to predetermined positions when the container needs emptying. This feedback mechanism ensures timely emptying without requiring constant manual monitoring, while the predetermined positions make the emptying operation convenient for users.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the robot has a movable brush for processing the floor surface, then the brush can remove various types of dirt, but the brush may accumulate foreign objects that restrict its mobility
Solution Approach 1:
The system proactively monitors brush condition and automatically navigates the robot to predetermined maintenance positions before the brush mobility is severely restricted. This preliminary action prevents complete immobilization and makes maintenance operations more convenient by timing them optimally.
4Productivity
If the robot operates autonomously without predetermined positions for maintenance, then the robot can clean the entire floor area, but the robot cannot efficiently return for service or maintenance
Solution Approach 1:
The floor area is divided into operational zones and predetermined maintenance positions. The robot efficiently cleans operational zones while knowing exactly where to return for maintenance. This segmentation allows the robot to maintain high productivity by minimizing non-productive travel time to maintenance locations.
Data Source
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AI summary
A robot comprises a motion unit for moving the robot across a floor surface and a processing unit for processing the traversed floor surface. A method for controlling the robot comprises the steps of detecting an operating state of the processing unit; determining that the detected operating state affects the processing; and controlling the motion unit to move the robot to a predetermined position assigned to the detected operating state.