Robot Cleaner AI Stuck-Situation Detection and Escape Routine

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Solution Overview

Problem

Robot cleaners are unable to actively avoid stuck situations, leading to inefficiencies and potential damage when they become stuck.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of an AI system that uses a combination of sensors and machine learning algorithms to detect stuck situations and adjust the cleaning path, allowing the robot to reverse and change its route to avoid obstacles, thereby preventing further entrapment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the robot cleaner uses traditional obstacle avoidance methods based on preset schedules and user commands, then it can perform basic cleaning operations, but it cannot actively cope with new stuck situations and becomes trapped

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveability to cope with stuck situationsVSAvoidcleaning efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The robot cleaner continuously monitors its operational state through sensors (wheel rotation sensors, bump sensors, motor current sensors) and uses this feedback to detect stuck situations. When a stuck situation is detected, the system adjusts its behavior by executing escape routines such as rotating in place or reversing, thereby adapting to the new condition and maintaining cleaning productivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The robot cleaner autonomously detects and resolves stuck situations without human intervention. The system self-diagnoses stuck conditions through sensor data and self-corrects by automatically executing escape routines, enabling it to maintain continuous cleaning operations without requiring user assistance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Reliability

If the robot cleaner continuously monitors for stuck situations using multiple sensors and AI algorithms, then it can rapidly detect and respond to stuck situations, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestuck situation detection accuracyVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The stuck situation detection system is divided into multiple independent sensor modules (wheel rotation sensors, bump sensors, motor current sensors), each monitoring specific parameters. The AI algorithm segments the analysis by evaluating each sensor's data separately and combining the results, which improves detection reliability while keeping each individual sensor component simple and manageable.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Adaptability or versatility

If the robot cleaner executes escape routines such as rotating and reversing when stuck, then it can avoid re-encountering stuck areas, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveability to avoid re-encounter with stuck areasVSAvoidpower consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The robot cleaner executes escape routines periodically only when stuck situations are detected, rather than continuously operating. The system monitors sensor inputs and triggers escape sequences (rotation, reversal) only during necessary moments, then returns to normal cleaning operations, thereby minimizing unnecessary power consumption while maintaining the ability to avoid re-encountering stuck areas.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Data Source

PatentEP3782524B1Robot cleaner for avoiding stuck situation through artificial intelligence and method of operating the same
Publication Date: 2024.04.10 LG ELECTRONICS INC
  • EP3782524B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3782524B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3782524B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

A robot cleaner (100) for avoiding a stuck situation using artificial intelligence includes a sensing unit (140) configured to detect the stuck situation of the robot cleaner, a driving unit to drive the robot cleaner, and a processor (180) configured to determine a rotation angle of the robot cleaner when the stuck situation is detected through the sensing unit, control the driving unit such that the robot cleaner rotates by the determined rotation angle, and control the driving unit such that the robot cleaner reverses by a certain distance after rotating by the rotation angle.