Floor Cleaning Robot Surface Recognition for Adaptive Cleaning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing automatically movable floor cleaning devices struggle to adjust their cleaning activities to specific surface areas, particularly when encountering different types of floor coverings, which can lead to ineffective cleaning or damage to certain surfaces.
Innovation Solution
The use of digital image processing to evaluate photographic recordings of the floor surface, allowing the device to identify and classify different types of floor coverings, and adjust its cleaning parameters, such as brush speed and suction power, accordingly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the cleaning device uses a single fixed cleaning mode, then the device structure is simple, but the cleaning effectiveness on different floor coverings is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning device dynamically adjusts its cleaning parameters (brush speed, suction power, water flow) based on real-time detection of floor covering type. The control unit modifies operational characteristics on-the-fly rather than requiring multiple fixed modes, allowing a single device to adapt to various surfaces including hard floors, carpets, and rugs.
Solution Approach 2:
The device changes operational parameters (brush rotation speed, suction airflow, water flow rate) according to the detected floor covering type. The control unit receives sensor data and adjusts these parameters to optimize cleaning effectiveness for each surface type, resolving the contradiction between versatility and complexity.
2Manufacturing precision
If the device continuously adjusts cleaning parameters, then the cleaning effectiveness is improved, but the control system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical adjustment mechanisms with an electronic control system that uses sensors and a control unit to automatically adjust cleaning parameters. This substitution reduces mechanical complexity while improving precision, as electronic control allows for fine-grained parameter adjustment based on sensor feedback.
Solution Approach 2:
The cleaning device performs self-adjustment of its cleaning parameters based on sensor detection of floor covering type. The control unit autonomously modifies brush speed, suction power, and water flow without user intervention, achieving precise adaptation while keeping the user interface simple.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the device detects and avoids certain floor areas, then the floor covering is protected from damage, but the cleaning productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of avoiding certain floor areas, the device changes its cleaning parameters to suit each floor covering type. The control unit adjusts brush pressure, suction power, and water flow to protect delicate surfaces like rugs and carpets while still providing effective cleaning, thus maintaining productivity without causing damage.
Solution Approach 2:
The device dynamically adapts its cleaning action to each surface type detected by sensors. For delicate floor coverings, the system automatically reduces mechanical stress and adjusts cleaning intensity, providing both protection and cleaning efficiency without requiring the device to avoid any areas.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a self-propelled floor cleaning device (1) equipped with a device (7) for creating photographic images of a surface to be traversed, wherein the floor cleaning device (1) has an evaluation unit (10) which is configured to evaluate an image (FA) with regard to the type of floor covering and to use a detected floor covering with regard to a travel strategy and/or with regard to setting cleaning parameters, such as floor clearance and/or size of secondary air openings and/or brush speed. In order to further improve a floor cleaning device, particularly with regard to an effective cleaning strategy, it is proposed that the evaluation unit (10) be configured, depending on the type of floor covering detected, to interrupt a cleaning process altogether and/or to leave or avoid a detected floor area.