Top-Mounted Optical Sensor Gesture Control for Robotic Vacuums
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Solution Overview
Problem
Self-propelled cleaning devices, such as robotic vacuum cleaners, face challenges in convenient and intuitive operation due to the difficulty of using remote controls and the need for precise user positioning, especially when complex inputs are required for defining cleaning areas.
Innovation Solution
A self-propelled cleaning device equipped with an optical sensor, preferably an imaging camera with a wide field of view, such as a fisheye lens, on its top side to recognize user gestures and control the device, eliminating the need for additional sensors and allowing command acceptance from any direction, combined with optional acoustic sensors for enhanced control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a remote control is used to operate the cleaning device, then the device can be controlled from a distance, but the remote control can be misplaced quickly or is not at hand at the crucial moment
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning device detects and recognizes gestures directly in its environment, eliminating the need for external remote controls. The device serves itself by having built-in optical sensors that automatically detect user gestures and convert them into control commands, making the control system self-contained and always available.
Solution Approach 2:
Gesture recognition serves as an intermediary between the user and the cleaning device. Instead of requiring direct interaction with buttons or a remote control, the user's gestures are captured by optical sensors and translated into control commands, providing a reliable and always-available control interface.
2Reliability
If close-range sensors are used to avoid collisions, then collision detection is effective, but longer-range sensors are needed to plan coordinated movement across the area
Solution Approach 1:
The optical sensor serves multiple functions: it detects user gestures for control, identifies obstacles for collision avoidance, and provides spatial information for movement planning. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate close-range and long-range sensors, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining comprehensive sensing capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the functions of gesture recognition, obstacle detection, and navigation into a single optical sensor system. By merging these functions, the device achieves both reliable collision avoidance and coordinated movement planning without requiring multiple specialized sensors.
3Measurement precision
If multiple sensors are used for gesture detection, then detection accuracy is improved, but additional sensors increase material and cost
Solution Approach 1:
The optical sensor is designed to perform multiple functions including gesture recognition, obstacle detection, and spatial mapping. By making the sensor universal, the system achieves accurate gesture detection without requiring additional specialized sensors, thereby reducing material quantity and cost.
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
Enables intuitive and barrier-free operation, increasing user acceptance, especially for those less technically savvy, and allowing operation by users with physical disabilities, while reducing material and cost through the multiple use of optical sensors for both navigation and control.
Implementation Method 1
at least one optical sensor, in particular an imaging camera, is arranged on a top side of the cleaning device
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
The self-propelled cleaning device has an optical sensor (6) for detecting an environment of the cleaning device, where a control device (7) is arranged to analyze signals from the optical sensor for detecting gestures of a user (9) and for controlling the cleaning device by using recognized gestures. The optical sensor is arranged on an upper side of the cleaning device and is designed as an imaging camera with a wide field of view. An optical projection device projects a predetermined pattern of light in the vicinity of the cleaning device. An independent claim is included for a method for operating a self-propelled cleaning device.