Master-Slave Robotic Cleaning System for Obstacle-Rich Spaces
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Robotic cleaning devices often struggle to reach and clean areas under obstacles like furniture, requiring manual intervention or additional cleaning tools, as they lack the capability to navigate and clean complex spaces autonomously.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a master robotic cleaning device that detects obstacles, positions itself, and wirelessly controls a slave robotic cleaning device to clean hard-to-reach areas, reducing the complexity and cost of the slave robot by eliminating the need for advanced obstacle detection and suction capabilities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a single robotic cleaning device is used to clean all areas, then the device must have advanced obstacle detection and navigation capabilities, but this increases device complexity and cost
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning system is divided into a master robotic device with advanced obstacle detection and navigation capabilities, and one or more slave robotic devices with simpler designs. The master device segments the cleaning task by identifying accessible areas and delegating hard-to-reach areas to slave devices, thereby resolving the contradiction between comprehensive cleaning coverage and device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The master robotic device acts as an intermediary between the user and the slave robotic devices. It detects obstacles, plans cleaning paths, and coordinates slave devices to clean areas that the master cannot reach. This intermediary role allows the system to achieve comprehensive cleaning coverage without requiring every device to have complex detection and navigation systems.
2Productivity
If the master robotic cleaning device attempts to clean all areas including under furniture, then it requires sophisticated navigation, but this increases the cost and reduces ease of manufacture
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning responsibility is segmented between master and slave devices based on their capabilities. The master device handles areas it can access, while slave devices with simpler designs are deployed to clean under furniture and in tight spaces. This segmentation maintains cleaning thoroughness while improving ease of manufacture by allowing slave devices to be built with fewer complex components.
3Extent of automation
If the slave robotic cleaning device is equipped with full obstacle detection capabilities, then it can operate autonomously, but this increases device complexity and cost
Solution Approach 1:
The slave robotic devices receive positional data and cleaning instructions from the master device, effectively copying the navigation plan created by the master. This allows slave devices to operate autonomously in their designated areas without requiring identical obstacle detection and navigation systems, thereby reducing their complexity and cost while maintaining autonomous operation.
4Area of stationary object
If the master robotic cleaning device covers all cleaning areas, then it requires advanced propulsion and maneuvering, but this increases power consumption and noise
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning area is segmented between master and slave devices. The master device focuses on areas it can efficiently access, while slave devices handle areas requiring different maneuvering characteristics. This segmentation allows each device to be optimized for its specific cleaning zones, reducing overall power consumption compared to a single device attempting to clean all areas.
Data Source
AI summary
A system of robotic cleaning devices and a method of a master robotic cleaning device of controlling at least one slave robotic cleaning device. The method performed by a master robotic cleaning device of controlling at least one slave robotic cleaning device includes detecting obstacles, deriving positional data from the detection of obstacles, positioning the master robotic cleaning device with respect to the detected obstacles from the derived positional data, controlling movement of the master robotic cleaning device based on the positional data, and submitting commands to the at least one slave robotic cleaning device to control a cleaning operation of said at least one slave robotic cleaning device, the commands being based on the derived positional data, wherein the cleaning operation of the slave robotic cleaning device is controlled as indicated by the submitted commands.