Method for controlling a plurality of cleaning robots
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing control methods for robot systems with multiple moving robots lack an efficient mechanism to manage urgent cleaning situations in public spaces, where contamination levels exceed predetermined thresholds, requiring rapid and coordinated responses to maintain cleanliness and safety.
Innovation Solution
A method where one moving robot identifies urgent contaminants by assessing contamination levels, transmits location information to other robots or electronic devices, and coordinates a response, with nearby robots moving to the affected area to perform cleaning operations based on criteria such as distance, cleaning progress, battery condition, and schedule, and returning to their assigned areas upon completion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If multiple cleaning robots are deployed to clean large public spaces, then cleaning coverage and productivity are improved, but coordination complexity and response time for urgent cleaning situations worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the large cleaning area into multiple zones, each assigned to specific cleaning robots. When urgent cleaning is needed, the system segments the response by identifying the specific zone requiring attention and dispatching only the relevant robots to that area, rather than coordinating all robots system-wide.
Solution Approach 2:
The server acts as an intermediary that receives urgent cleaning requests, determines the appropriate cleaning area, and transmits commands to specific robots. This mediator simplifies coordination complexity by centralizing the decision-making process and managing communication between multiple robots and the user.
2Productivity
If cleaning robots autonomously navigate and clean assigned areas, then operational efficiency is improved, but ability to respond to urgent cleaning situations worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts robot assignments based on real-time needs. Robots normally operate autonomously in their assigned areas, but when an urgent cleaning situation is detected, the server dynamically reassigns robots to the urgent area based on their current status, battery level, and proximity, allowing the system to adapt from autonomous operation to coordinated emergency response.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where robots report their status, cleaning progress, and battery levels to the server. The server uses this feedback to make informed decisions about which robots to deploy for urgent cleaning, balancing autonomous operation with coordinated response capabilities.
3Speed
If robots are dispatched to urgent cleaning areas, then cleaning speed and responsiveness are improved, but energy consumption and operational disruption worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The system dispatches only the necessary number of robots to urgent cleaning areas based on the severity and size of the contamination, rather than deploying all available robots. This partial action approach achieves sufficient cleaning speed while minimizing unnecessary energy consumption and operational disruption to regular cleaning tasks.
Solution Approach 2:
The server evaluates multiple parameters including robot battery levels, current cleaning progress, distance to urgent area, and contamination severity before dispatching robots. This parameter-based decision-making optimizes the balance between cleaning speed and energy consumption by selecting robots that can respond quickly without depleting their energy reserves.
4Stability of the object's composition
If robots return to assigned areas after urgent cleaning, then system organization and readiness are improved, but additional travel time and energy loss occur
Solution Approach 1:
Robots maintain their assigned area assignments and readiness status even when deployed to urgent cleaning areas. After completing urgent cleaning, they automatically return to their assigned areas to resume normal operations. This preliminary organization ensures that robots are always positioned for both routine cleaning and emergency responses, minimizing overall system disruption.
Data Source
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AI summary
According to an aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a method of controlling a robot system including a plurality of moving robots each assigned a cleaning area, the method including - receiving a command designating an urgent cleaning area, - at least one moving robot of the plurality of moving robots moving to the urgent cleaning area according to a predetermined criterion based on the command, - performing a cleaning operation by the moving robot having moved to the urgent cleaning area and a moving robot assigned the urgent cleaning area as a cleaning area, and - returning to an assigned cleaning area by the moving robot having moved to the urgent cleaning area when the cleaning operation is completed.