Moving robot and controlling method

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing moving robot systems face challenges in preventing isolation situations, such as getting stuck under beds or in narrow areas, leading to battery discharge and incomplete cleaning, due to inadequate obstacle detection and virtual wall setup methods that rely on user intervention and external apparatuses.

Innovation Solution

The system generates a map of the cleaning area, detects isolation positions, and sets virtual walls to restrict the robot's movement, using a combination of sensors and image acquisition units to avoid obstacles and predict potential isolation areas, allowing the robot to autonomously avoid isolation and complete cleaning tasks.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the moving robot autonomously detects isolation positions and sets virtual walls, then the reliability of preventing isolation is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveisolation prevention reliabilityVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The moving robot autonomously detects isolation positions and sets virtual walls without external intervention. The robot's controller automatically processes sensor data, identifies isolation risks, and configures virtual wall parameters, enabling the system to serve itself and eliminate the need for external apparatuses or manual setup.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces external mechanical apparatuses with sensor-based detection systems. Instead of using physical external devices to set virtual walls, the robot uses sensors (ultrasonic, infrared, laser, or vision sensors) to detect isolation positions and automatically configures virtual walls through software processing, substituting mechanical systems with sensing and computational systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Measurement precision

If the robot uses sensors and image acquisition units to detect obstacles, then the measurement precision of obstacle detection is improved, but the use of energy increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveobstacle detection precisionVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The robot employs multiple sensor types (ultrasonic, infrared, laser, or vision sensors) simultaneously or selectively to detect obstacles and isolation positions. This partial or excessive use of different sensing modalities ensures high measurement precision by cross-validating detections and covering various obstacle types, while the system can activate only necessary sensors based on environmental conditions to manage energy consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Productivity

If the robot autonomously navigates and avoids obstacles, then the productivity of cleaning is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecleaning efficiencyVSAvoidnavigation system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The sensor system and controller serve multiple functions: detecting obstacles, identifying isolation positions, mapping the environment, and navigating the robot. This multi-functionality allows the same hardware components to support both autonomous navigation and cleaning tasks, improving productivity without proportionally increasing device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP3428762B1Moving robot and controlling method
Publication Date: 2024.03.27 LG ELECTRONICS INC
  • EP3428762B1 patent drawingFigure 1(a)~1(b)
  • EP3428762B1 patent drawingFigure 2(a)~2(b)
  • EP3428762B1 patent drawingFigure 3(a)~3(b)

AI summary

A moving robot system includes a moving robot which travels in a cleaning area, generates a map of the cleaning area, moves based on the map, and sucks foreign substances; and a terminal which inputs a cleaning command to the moving robot, based on the map, wherein the moving robot determines that the moving robot is in an isolation state, when the moving robot is unable to move due to a surrounding obstacle while traveling in the cleaning area, and sets a virtual wall in an isolation position where isolation is occurred and avoids the isolation position during a next cleaning operation.