Handheld-to-Robotic Vacuum Communication for Targeted Cleaning Zones
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing surface cleaning devices, both manual and robotic, face challenges in efficiently targeting specific cleaning areas and adapting to changing cleaning requirements, such as accidental spills, due to lack of real-time feedback and navigation capabilities.
Innovation Solution
A hand-held surface cleaning device equipped with sensory systems like cameras and communication technologies (e.g., Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, laser, sound) that map environments and transmit real-time data to robotic surface cleaning devices, enabling targeted cleaning and semi-autonomous navigation to specific areas of interest.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a robotic vacuum operates autonomously to eliminate user fatigue, then ease of operation is improved, but the ability to adapt to changing cleaning requirements deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback by equipping the robotic vacuum with sensors (cameras, LIDAR, ultrasonic sensors) that continuously monitor the environment and communicate cleaning requirements back to the control system, enabling the robot to adapt its navigation and cleaning operations in real-time based on detected spills, obstacles, or designated areas
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a communication intermediary (wireless communication system, remote control device) that bridges the user and the autonomous robotic vacuum, allowing users to provide real-time directions or activate specific cleaning modes without physically guiding the vacuum, thus maintaining autonomy while enabling adaptation to changing requirements
2Productivity
If a robotic vacuum cleans the entire environment autonomously, then productivity is improved, but the time to reach specific cleaning areas deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by using sensors and mapping capabilities to pre-identify and prioritize cleaning areas, allowing the robotic vacuum to navigate directly to high-priority locations (such as detected spills or user-designated areas) rather than systematically cleaning the entire environment, thus reducing time to reach specific cleaning needs while maintaining overall productivity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies dynamics by enabling the robotic vacuum to dynamically adjust its cleaning path and priorities based on real-time environmental feedback and user input, allowing it to switch between comprehensive cleaning mode and targeted spot-cleaning mode to optimize both productivity and response time
3Adaptability or versatility
If sensory systems and communication technologies are added to enable targeted cleaning, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by designing a multi-functional sensor system and control architecture that handles multiple tasks (navigation, obstacle detection, spill detection, area mapping, user communication) through integrated components, reducing overall system complexity despite the wide range of adaptability features provided
Data Source
AI summary
A hand-held surface cleaning device includes circuitry to communicate with a robotic surface cleaning device to cause the same to target an area/region of interest for cleaning. Thus, a user may utilize the hand-held surface cleaning device to perform targeted cleaning and conveniently direct a robotic surface cleaning device to focus on a region of interest. Moreover, the hand-held surface cleaning device may include sensory such as a camera device for extracting three-dimensional information from a field of view. This information may be utilized to map locations of walls, stairs, obstacles, changes in surface types, and other features in a given location. Thus, a robotic surface cleaning device may utilize the mapping information from the hand-held surface cleaning device as an input in a real-time control loop, e.g., as an input to a Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (SLAM) routine.