Pool Cleaner Imaging Control for Targeted Debris Navigation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing automatic pool cleaners operate randomly or with inefficient control algorithms, failing to effectively clean swimming pools in a timely manner.
Innovation Solution
A pool cleaner equipped with an imaging device and a controller that analyzes aquatic environment data to identify debris, determine optimal cleaning pathways, and navigate the cleaner to target debris using customizable thresholds and path scoring algorithms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a random algorithm is used to control the pool cleaner, then the device complexity is reduced, but the cleaning productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The pool cleaner captures images of the aquatic environment before cleaning operations begin, storing them in memory for subsequent analysis. This preliminary action allows the controller to process image data and identify debris locations in advance, enabling more efficient navigation and cleaning paths rather than moving randomly throughout the pool.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces random mechanical navigation with a controller-based system that uses image processing algorithms to determine optimal cleaning paths. The controller analyzes captured images, identifies debris, and directs the pool cleaner's movement accordingly, substituting unpredictable mechanical random walks with intelligent, data-driven navigation.
2Productivity
If the pool cleaner traverses the entire aquatic environment systematically, then the cleaning productivity increases, but the time required for cleaning increases
Solution Approach 1:
The pool cleaner captures and stores images of the entire aquatic environment before beginning systematic cleaning. This preliminary imaging action allows the controller to analyze the complete environment, identify all debris locations in advance, and plan an optimized cleaning path that covers necessary areas efficiently without redundant movements.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller continuously processes image data from the aquatic environment, identifies debris locations, and uses this information to dynamically adjust the cleaning path. This feedback mechanism allows the system to prioritize areas with debris and optimize the sequence of cleaning operations, reducing unnecessary traversal time while ensuring comprehensive coverage.
Data Source
AI summary
A pool cleaner is provided. The pool cleaner includes a housing and a device mounted to the housing. The device is configured to acquire data for an aquatic environment. The pool cleaner also includes a controller in communication with the device. The controller identifies candidate debris from the data, determines a pathway from the data using a customized threshold, and navigates the pool cleaner to the candidate debris along the pathway. The pool cleaner further includes a user interface, wherein the controller is programmable via the user interface.