Mobile robot providing environmental mapping for household environmental control
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Solution Overview
Problem
There are unmet challenges in integrating the rich and autonomous behavior of household mobile robots with the core concepts of 'Internet of Things' connectivity, particularly in monitoring and responding to the presence and activities of household occupants.
Innovation Solution
A mobile robot equipped with a processor, wireless network circuit, and motorized actuators that can detect the presence and state of mobile devices on a wireless network, adjusting its cleaning actions accordingly, such as changing its cleaning mode or quieting down during phone calls, and also monitoring environmental conditions to optimize household cleaning and control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the mobile robot performs intensive cleaning operations, then cleaning productivity is improved, but noise level increases and disturbs household occupants
Solution Approach 1:
The robot dynamically adjusts its cleaning behavior based on detected occupant activities. When phone calls or meetings are detected, the robot transitions from intensive cleaning mode to quiet mode or pauses operations, allowing adaptive response to changing environmental conditions while maintaining overall productivity
2Adaptability or versatility
If the robot monitors wireless network for presence detection, then responsiveness to occupants is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The robot utilizes the existing wireless network infrastructure for multiple purposes: routine communication and presence detection of occupants. By making the wireless network serve dual functions, the system achieves enhanced responsiveness without proportionally increasing device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The robot autonomously monitors the wireless network for presence indicators of household occupants and automatically adjusts its cleaning operations based on detected activities such as phone calls or meetings, without requiring external control systems
3Adaptability or versatility
If the robot changes cleaning mode based on detected activities, then adaptability to household environment is improved, but control system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The robot pre-defines multiple cleaning modes (intensive cleaning, quiet mode, paused operations) and automatically transitions between them based on detected occupant activities. These modes are prepared in advance, allowing the robot to adapt to household environment without implementing complex real-time control algorithms
Data Source
AI summary
A mobile robot includes a processor connected to a memory and a wireless network circuit, for executing routines stored in the memory and commands generated by the routines and received via the wireless network circuit. The processor drives the mobile robot to a multiplicity of accessible two dimensional locations within a household, and commands an end effector, including at least one motorized actuator, to perform mechanical work in the household. A plurality of routines include a first routine which monitors a wireless local network and detects a presence of a network entity on the wireless local network, a second routine which receives a signal from a sensor detecting an action state of one of the network entities, the action state changeable between waiting and active, and a third routine which commands the end effector to change state of performing mechanical work based on the presence and on the action state.