One-Button Interface for Autonomous Cleaning Robot Behavior Selection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing autonomous cleaning robots often have complex user interfaces with multiple buttons, which can complicate user interaction and increase design complexity and weight, whereas a simplified user interface is desired for intuitive operation and efficient behavior selection.
Innovation Solution
A one-button user interface for autonomous cleaning robots that utilizes button actuation duration and sensor information to select from multiple behaviors, including cleaning, docking, and reset operations, with visual feedback from a light ring to guide the user.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple buttons are used in the user interface, then more behaviors can be controlled, but the device complexity and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies multi-functionality by enabling a single button to perform multiple control functions. The button can initiate cleaning, return to dock, pause operations, and access settings by varying the duration of the press (short press vs. long press). This eliminates the need for multiple physical buttons while maintaining comprehensive control capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses parameter changes by varying the press duration of the single button to differentiate between different commands. A short press (less than 2 seconds) triggers one behavior, while a long press (2 seconds or more) triggers a different behavior. This temporal parameter variation allows one component to control multiple functions.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple buttons are used in the user interface, then more behaviors can be controlled, but the weight of the robot increases
Solution Approach 1:
The single multi-functional button replaces multiple physical buttons, directly reducing the overall weight of the robot while maintaining the ability to control multiple behaviors through different press duration patterns.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the essential control function from multiple buttons and consolidates it into a single button component, removing unnecessary physical components and their associated weight while preserving control capability through software-based differentiation.
3Adaptability or versatility
If button press duration is used to differentiate behaviors, then more behaviors can be selected from a single button, but the ease of operation may decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides visual feedback through an LED indicator that changes color or pattern to show the user which behavior will be executed based on the current press duration. This feedback mechanism helps users understand the relationship between press duration and resulting behavior, making the differentiated control more intuitive and easier to operate.
Data Source
AI summary
Some autonomous cleaning robots include a drive configured to maneuver the autonomous cleaning robot about a floor surface. The robots include a cleaning system to clean the floor surface as the autonomous cleaning robot is maneuvered about the floor surface. The robots include a robot button positioned on the autonomous cleaning robot. The robots include a controller in electrical communication with the drive and the robot button. The controller is configured to perform operations including selecting a behavior of the autonomous cleaning robot from a plurality of behaviors of the autonomous cleaning robot responsive to a duration of actuation of the robot button and causing the autonomous mobile robot to initiate the behavior.