Moving Robot Virtual Wall Mapping for Flexible Cleaning Area Control
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing moving robot systems for cleaning areas face challenges in effectively avoiding obstacles and efficiently managing virtual walls, leading to potential damage and the need for manual installation and repositioning of physical apparatuses, which limits user convenience and operational flexibility.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a moving robot that generates a map of the cleaning area and a terminal that sets virtual walls with attributes for controlling the robot's operations, allowing the robot to adjust its path and perform specific actions based on the virtual walls, such as noise control, path changes, or security functions, without requiring physical apparatuses.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a physical apparatus is installed to generate signals for preventing the moving robot from approaching certain areas, then the robot can be prevented from entering restricted zones, but the system complexity increases and requires manual installation and repositioning of physical devices
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces physical barrier apparatus with a virtual wall concept that is copied into the robot's map data. Instead of using physical devices to generate signals, the system creates a digital representation of barriers that the robot recognizes through software processing, eliminating the need for physical installation while maintaining obstacle avoidance functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The patent substitutes mechanical/physical barrier systems with an information-based virtual wall system. The physical apparatus that would generate signals is replaced by digital map data and software algorithms that process cleaning area information to define restricted zones, transforming a mechanical system into an information processing system
2Reliability
If physical apparatuses are used to set virtual walls, then cleaning area restrictions can be established, but manual installation and repositioning is required which reduces user convenience
Solution Approach 1:
The patent copies the virtual wall concept into the robot's navigational map, allowing users to define restricted areas through software interfaces rather than physically installing devices. The virtual barriers exist as data representations that the robot recognizes and respects during cleaning operations, enabling easy modification without physical manipulation
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables the robot to autonomously recognize and navigate around virtual walls using its own sensors and map processing capabilities. The robot self-adjusts its cleaning path based on the virtual wall information embedded in its map data, eliminating the need for external physical apparatuses to enforce area restrictions
3Productivity
If the moving robot approaches obstacles to perform cleaning, then cleaning coverage is improved, but the obstacle may be damaged
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different operational characteristics to different areas of the cleaning space by defining virtual walls with specific attributes. Restricted zones are marked with properties that indicate no approach is permitted, while other areas allow normal cleaning operations. This local differentiation enables the robot to maintain high cleaning coverage in safe areas while preventing damage in protected zones
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary classification of cleaning areas by pre-defining virtual walls and their attributes before the robot begins cleaning. The robot's map data is预先 configured with restricted zone information, allowing the robot to plan its cleaning path in advance to avoid obstacles that should not be approached, rather than reacting to potential damage situations
Data Source
Figure 1(a)~1(b)
Figure 2(a)~2(b)
Figure 3(a)~4
AI summary
A moving robot system includes a moving robot which travels a cleaning area, generates a map for the cleaning area, and moves based on the map; and a terminal which receives the map, sets at least one virtual wall in the map, and transmits the virtual wall to the moving robot, wherein the terminal sets an attribute for controlling operation of the moving robot in the virtual wall, and wherein the moving robot divides a travelable area in correspondence to the virtual wall and performs cleaning while traveling the cleaning area, and performs a specified operation according to the attribute specified to the virtual wall when reaching the virtual wall.