Robot Cleaner Debris Detection With One Optical Sensor
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional robot cleaning devices face issues with excessive sensor installation leading to increased manufacturing costs and space occupancy, as well as ineffective cleaning due to malfunctioning sensors and a lack of adaptability to varying debris conditions.
Innovation Solution
A robot cleaning device equipped with a debris detecting unit featuring a light emitter and receiver, a controller to determine debris accumulation based on beam variation patterns, and a maintenance station for addressing sensor malfunctions, allowing for optimized debris detection and adaptive cleaning operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If multiple sensors are installed to detect debris introduction and accumulation, then debris detection capability is improved, but manufacturing costs increase and device space is occupied
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines debris introduction detection and debris accumulation detection functions into a single sensor unit. The sensor detects both the introduction of debris into the debris box and the accumulation level of debris, eliminating the need for separate sensors for each function. This merging reduces the number of sensors while maintaining comprehensive debris detection capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor is designed to perform multiple functions: detecting debris introduction, detecting debris accumulation, and providing information for both cleaning control and maintenance station operations. This multi-functional sensor replaces what would traditionally require multiple specialized sensors, reducing system complexity while improving overall detection capability.
2Productivity
If sensors are installed to detect debris, then cleaning effectiveness is improved, but manufacturing costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple detection functions into a single sensor system, reducing the bill of materials and manufacturing cost. By using one sensor to perform what would traditionally require multiple sensors, the overall manufacturing cost is reduced while maintaining the ability to detect both debris introduction and accumulation for effective cleaning operations.
3Device complexity
If a single reference value is used for cleaning decisions, then control simplicity is maintained, but adaptability to varying debris conditions is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic cleaning control by using real-time sensor data about debris introduction and accumulation to adjust cleaning operations. Instead of a fixed reference value, the system adapts its cleaning behavior based on current debris conditions, allowing it to respond dynamically to varying debris types and amounts while maintaining relatively simple control logic.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor provides continuous feedback about debris introduction and accumulation, which the controller uses to adjust cleaning operations in real-time. This feedback mechanism enables the system to adapt to varying debris conditions by modifying cleaning intensity, frequency, or pattern based on actual debris presence and accumulation level, rather than relying on predetermined reference values.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution reduces manufacturing costs, enhances debris detection accuracy, and improves cleaning efficiency by adapting to different debris conditions and sensor malfunctions, ensuring effective cleaning operations.
Implementation Method 1
a light emitter to emit beams, and a light receiver to receive the emitted beams. The controller may determine whether debris is introduced into the debris box and whether debris has been accumulated in the debris box in the predetermined amount, in accordance with an amount of the beams received by the light receiver.
Data Source
AI summary
A robot cleaning device includes a debris detecting unit. The robot cleaning device includes a body, a driving unit to enable the body to travel, a drum brush unit provided at the body, to sweep up debris, using a brush and a rotating drum, a debris box to store the debris swept up by the drum brush unit, a debris detecting unit to detect whether debris has been introduced into the debris box through the drum brush unit during a cleaning operation, and a controller to determine whether debris is introduced into the debris box and whether debris has been accumulated in the debris box in a predetermined amount, based on introduction or non-introduction of debris detected by the debris detecting unit.