Environmental management systems including mobile robots and methods using same
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Solution Overview
Problem
The integration of rich and autonomous behavior of household mobile robots with Internet of Things connectivity remains unmet, as existing technologies struggle to effectively manage and control these robots remotely, especially in unpredictable environments with multiple sensor inputs.
Innovation Solution
A computer-implemented method and system for remote control and monitoring of mobile cleaning robots, featuring a user interface with control elements for launch, cleaning strategies, and recall functions, allowing users to command and track the robots' actions, including scheduling and remediation options, via a user terminal connected to the robot's drive and cleaning motors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If household mobile robots are equipped with autonomous behavior and multiple sensor inputs, then their ability to operate in unpredictable environments improves, but the complexity of remotely managing and controlling them deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The control interface is segmented into multiple independent control elements grouped by function (launch controls, cleaning strategy controls, physical recall controls). Each control element handles a specific aspect of robot operation, allowing users to manage complexity by interacting with discrete, well-defined controls rather than a monolithic interface.
Solution Approach 2:
A user terminal acts as an intermediary between the user and the mobile robot. The terminal receives user inputs through the segmented control elements, processes them, and translates them into appropriate commands for the robot's autonomous systems, simplifying the user's interaction with the complex robot while preserving autonomous operation.
2Ease of operation
If users are provided with comprehensive control options for cleaning strategies and robot management, then ease of operation improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The user interface is divided into distinct control groups (launch, cleaning strategy, physical recall) with each group containing specific control elements for particular functions. This segmentation allows users to access comprehensive control capabilities without being overwhelmed by a single complex interface, as they can focus on one functional group at a time.
Solution Approach 2:
The control elements are designed to be dynamically configurable, allowing users to adjust cleaning strategies and robot behavior based on real-time conditions and user preferences. This dynamic adaptability provides comprehensive control options while maintaining interface simplicity through context-aware defaults and automated adjustments.
Data Source
AI summary
A computer-implemented method for receiving user commands for a remote cleaning robot and sending the user commands to the remote cleaning robot, the remote cleaning robot including a drive motor and a cleaning motor, includes displaying a user interface including a control area, and within the control area: a user-manipulable launch control group including a plurality of control elements, the launch control group having a deferred launch control state and an immediate launch control state; at least one user-manipulable cleaning strategy control element having a primary cleaning strategy control state and an alternative cleaning strategy control state; and a physical recall control group including a plurality of control elements, the physical recall control group having an immediate recall control state and a remote audible locator control state. The method further includes: receiving user input via the user-manipulable control elements; responsive to the user inputs, displaying simultaneously within the same control area a real-time robot state reflecting a unique combination of control states; and commanding the remote cleaning robot to actuate the drive motor and cleaning motor to clean a surface based on the received input and unique combination of control states.