Autonomous Floor Robot Pad Sensing for Mode-Specific Cleaning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional floor cleaning methods, such as using wet mops, are cumbersome and require manual scrubbing, which can be exhausting and inefficient, especially for large areas, and lack automation in selecting appropriate cleaning modes based on the type of cleaning pad used.
Innovation Solution
An autonomous floor cleaning robot equipped with a pad sensor that identifies the type of cleaning pad attached and selects the appropriate cleaning mode, including spraying schedule and navigational behavior, to autonomously clean the floor without user intervention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional wet mops are used for floor cleaning, then cleaning can be performed manually, but the process requires user physical effort and manual intervention which is cumbersome and exhausting
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning system performs self-service by automatically detecting the cleaning pad type through sensor 140 and autonomously selecting the appropriate cleaning mode without requiring user intervention. The robot 100 independently executes the cleaning process, eliminating the need for manual operation while maintaining effective floor cleaning.
2Reliability
If manual scrubbing is performed to remove dried-in soils, then cleaning effectiveness is achieved, but the process is time-consuming and physically demanding
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical scrubbing with an autonomous robotic system that uses sensor 140 to detect pad type and automatically executes the appropriate cleaning mode. This substitution eliminates the need for manual physical effort while maintaining cleaning effectiveness through automated pad-specific protocols.
3Productivity
If a fixed cleaning mode is used regardless of pad type, then the system is simple to operate, but cleaning performance is suboptimal for different pad types
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically changes operational parameters by detecting the cleaning pad type through sensor 140 and automatically selecting the corresponding cleaning mode from multiple predefined modes. This parameter adaptation optimizes cleaning efficiency for each pad type without requiring manual configuration or complex user decisions.
4Productivity
If the robot autonomously selects cleaning mode based on pad sensor detection, then cleaning performance is optimized, but the system requires additional sensors and control logic
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback by using sensor 140 to detect the cleaning pad type and automatically adjusting the cleaning mode based on this information. This closed-loop feedback mechanism optimizes cleaning performance while keeping the system relatively simple through direct sensor-to-controller communication without complex intermediate processing.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The autonomous robot reduces user intervention, minimizes errors, and efficiently cleans floors by automatically selecting the optimal cleaning mode based on the pad type, enhancing cleaning performance and reducing physical strain on the user.
Implementation Method 1
The pad sensor may include a radiation emitter configured to emit a first radiation and a second radiation, and the pad sensor may sense a reflection of the first and the second radiations off of the feature to sense the spectral response of the feature.
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 2A~2C
AI summary
An autonomous floor cleaning robot includes a body, a controller supported by the body, a drive supporting the body to maneuver the robot across a floor surface in response to commands from the controller, and a pad holder attached to an underside of the body to hold a removable cleaning pad during operation of the robot. The pad includes a mounting plate and a mounting surface. The mounting plate is attached to the mounting surface. The robot includes a pad sensor to sense a feature on the pad and to generate a signal based on the feature, which is defined in part by a cutout on the card backing. The mounting plate enables the pad sensor to detect the feature. The controller is responsive to the signal to perform operations including selecting a cleaning mode based on the signal, and controlling the robot according to a selected cleaning mode.