Pool Cleaning Robot Wall Distance Control With Dual Ultrasonic Sensing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Swimming pool robots exhibit irregular motion paths, leading to inappropriate distances from pool walls and incomplete cleaning due to random direction changes, resulting in poor cleaning efficiency.

Innovation Solution

Employing dual ultrasonic sensors in perpendicular directions to control the robot's movement, adjusting speed and direction based on sensing information to maintain optimal distance from obstacles and ensure thorough cleaning.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If deep learning models with large number of parameters are deployed on mobile robots, then recognition accuracy is improved, but model size and computational complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverecognition accuracyVSAvoidmodel size
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the deep learning model into two separate modules: a backbone network for feature extraction and a head network for classification. This segmentation allows the backbone to be optimized for accuracy while the head can be kept lightweight, resolving the contradiction between model size and recognition accuracy by separating their functions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs knowledge distillation to transfer knowledge from a large teacher model to a smaller student model by matching output distributions. This parameter transformation approach enables the smaller model to achieve comparable accuracy to larger models, effectively reducing model size while maintaining recognition performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Speed

If high-performance processors are used, then computational speed is improved, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecomputational speedVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic computational scheduling that adapts processing power allocation based on task requirements and energy availability. The system dynamically adjusts between high-performance and energy-efficient processing modes, optimizing the balance between computational speed and energy consumption rather than using fixed high-performance processors.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

By segmenting computational tasks into different processing stages with varying computational requirements, the system can allocate processing power appropriately to each stage, avoiding unnecessary energy consumption from using high-performance processors for all tasks.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Measurement precision

If multiple sensors are integrated, then perception capability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveperception capabilityVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges data from multiple sensor types (depth sensors, RGB cameras, IMU) into a unified feature representation through the backbone network. This consolidation approach maintains comprehensive perception capability while reducing the complexity of handling each sensor independently by processing them through a shared feature extraction pipeline.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The backbone network serves as a universal feature extractor that processes inputs from multiple different sensor types, enabling a single component to handle diverse sensor data. This multi-functionality reduces overall system complexity by eliminating the need for separate processing paths for each sensor type.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP4704451A1Robot control method and apparatus
Publication Date: 2026.03.04 XINGMAI INNOVATION TECH (SUZHOU) CO LTD
  • EP4704451A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4704451A1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4704451A1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

Embodiments of this application provide a robot control method and apparatus. The method includes: obtaining first sensing information collected by a first sensor in a first direction of a target robot; obtaining second sensing information collected by a second sensor in a second direction of the target robot, where the first direction is perpendicular to the second direction; and controlling a moving direction of the target robot in a target swimming pool based on the first sensing information and the second sensing information, where the target robot is configured to clean the target swimming pool. According to embodiments of this application, a problem of incomplete cleaning of the swimming pool due to an inappropriate distance between a swimming pool robot and a wall of the swimming pool is resolved. In this way, the swimming pool robot keeps an appropriate distance from the wall of the swimming pool, and a swimming pool cleaning effect is improved.