Pool Cleaner Yaw Navigation for Horizontal Wall Cleaning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pool cleaners are inefficient and time-consuming when traversing vertical pool walls, especially when encountering obstacles, as they require continuous ascending and descending movements.
Innovation Solution
A pool cleaner equipped with sensors to detect actual yaw and orientation, a steering module that can move the cleaner along non-vertical cleaning paths, and a controller that adjusts the steering based on real-time yaw data, allowing for efficient wall cleaning and obstacle navigation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If pool cleaners are programmed to climb walls continuously until reaching the water line followed by descent back to the floor, then the cleaning path covers the entire wall surface, but the cleaning process becomes time-consuming due to continuous ascending and descending movements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces non-vertical yaw cleaning path segments that allow the pool cleaner to move horizontally along the wall surface rather than strictly ascending and descending. This dimensional change in movement pattern enables the cleaner to cover wall areas more efficiently by traversing horizontally between different elevation levels, reducing the number of times it must climb and descend the entire wall height.
2Reliability
If pool cleaners traverse vertical walls using imaginary vertical boxes or strips, then the cleaning path is systematic and complete, but the cleaner requires numerous turns and direction changes which reduces cleaning speed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic cleaning paths with non-vertical yaw segments that allow the pool cleaner to adapt its movement pattern in real-time. Instead of following fixed vertical strips with mandatory turns at the bottom, the cleaner can dynamically adjust its trajectory to move horizontally along the wall, maintaining continuous contact and reducing the frequency of turns while still achieving complete coverage of the wall surface.
3Productivity
If pool cleaners are equipped with sensors and steering elements for non-vertical movement, then the cleaner can navigate efficiently along walls with fewer turns, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates multiple functions into the steering elements, which not only control the pool cleaner's movement direction but also maintain wall contact, enable navigation around obstacles, and adapt to varying wall geometries. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated components for each function, thereby limiting the increase in overall device complexity despite the advanced navigation capabilities.
Data Source
AI summary
A pool cleaner for cleaning a pool, the pool cleaner may include a filtering element for filtering fluid; at least one sensor for sensing an actual yaw of the pool cleaner and an actual orientation of the pool cleaner; at least one steering element that is configured to move the pool cleaner along a cleaning path, during a cleaning process of segments of multiple sidewalls of the pool; wherein the cleaning path mostly includes substantially horizontal cleaning path segments that have a cleaning path segment yaw that is a substantially horizontal yaw; wherein the certain region is fully submerged; and a controller that is configured to control the at least one steering element, based on the actual yaw of the pool cleaner.