Laundry washing machine with speech recognition and response laundry washing machine with speech recognition and response capabilities, in particular speech response, and a method for operating thereof
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing laundry washing machines fail to effectively wash a mixture of different types of clothes without damaging individual items, as they typically select the most delicate program based on the most delicate item, ignoring the specific needs of other items like bed linen, towels, and colored cotton, and previous solutions such as spectrometer sensors are inadequate as they only recognize fabric type and not the specific items or their level of dirtiness.
Innovation Solution
An automatic laundry washing machine with speech recognition and response capabilities that allows users to input information about each item, including typology, fabric type, soil level, and color intensity, enabling the machine to select the most appropriate washing program and alert the user to remove conflicting items that cannot be properly washed together.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the washing machine selects the most delicate washing program based on the most delicate item in the load, then the delicate items are protected from damage, but the washing effectiveness for other items (bed linen, towels, colored cotton) is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The washing machine divides the laundry load into separate groups based on fabric type, color, and delicacy level. Each group is assigned an appropriate washing program, allowing different washing conditions (temperature, agitation, cycle length) to be applied to different item types simultaneously or in sequence, thus optimizing both delicate item protection and thorough washing for other items.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts washing parameters based on the detected composition of the laundry load. Sensors identify fabric types and characteristics, and the control system modifies washing program selection in real-time to balance delicate item protection with effective washing of other items, rather than statically selecting a single program for all items.
2Extent of automation
If a spectrometer sensor is used to recognize fabric types, then automatic program selection is enabled, but the system cannot identify specific items, their characteristics, or level of dirtiness
Solution Approach 1:
The system combines multiple sensing technologies (spectrometer for fabric identification, image recognition cameras for item identification, and dirt detection sensors) to create a comprehensive laundry analysis system. This integration allows the machine to automatically select washing programs while retaining detailed information about specific items, their characteristics, and soil levels.
Solution Approach 2:
An intermediate processing layer (image recognition algorithms and data fusion system) is introduced between the basic spectrometer sensor and the washing program selection. This intermediary layer enriches the raw fabric identification data with item-level details, color information, and dirtiness assessment, enabling both automation and precise item characterization.
3Reliability
If the washing machine treats all items according to the most delicate category, then no items are damaged, but the washing time and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The washing machine applies different washing qualities (intensity, temperature, duration) to different items based on their specific characteristics. Delicate items receive gentle treatment while robust items like bed linen and towels receive more intensive washing, optimizing energy usage by avoiding unnecessary gentle cycles for all items while maintaining item integrity through targeted protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically changes washing parameters (temperature, agitation intensity, cycle duration, water level) based on the detected laundry composition. By adjusting these parameters according to item delicacy and soil level, the machine reduces energy consumption for robust items while maintaining appropriate protection for delicate items, rather than using a uniformly conservative approach.
Data Source
AI summary
A laundry washing machine with a human interface configured to receive information, specifying for each item, introduced into the washing machine to be washed, essential information including a typology and a description of its characteristics. The laundry washing machine also has a memory means configured to memorize the essential information, and a data management means configured to use said information to determine the most appropriate washing program among multiple washing programs, chosen taking into account the items singularly specified through said essential information when they are introduced in said washing machine. The data management means is also configured to report to a user, by means of an output means, the presence of at least a conflicting laundry item into the washing machine, after having determined on the basis of said essential information which conflicting laundry item is unsuitable to be washed by means of the selected washing program.