Robot Cleaner Augmented Reality Display for Dust Level Visualization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current robot cleaners do not provide users with a clear indication of the cleanliness level of cleaned regions before or after cleaning, making it difficult for users to assess the effectiveness of the cleaning process.
Innovation Solution
A robot cleaner equipped with a dust sensor and a control unit that generates an augmented reality (AR) image based on the amount of dust detected, allowing users to visualize the cleanliness level through virtual dust representation on a cleaning map or image, with changes in size and color corresponding to the dust amount.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If a robot cleaner informs the user of cleaned and uncleaned regions after cleaning, then the user can know the cleaning coverage, but the user cannot know the degree of contamination before cleaning or accurately check cleaning quality
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a virtual copy of the dust particles through AR images. The dust sensor detects actual dust, and the control unit generates virtual dust images that replicate the appearance and distribution of real dust particles on the screen, allowing users to see contamination levels without physically present dust
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary system consisting of the dust sensor, control unit, and display screen. This intermediary translates invisible or hard-to-see dust particles into visible virtual images, mediating between the physical dust and the user's perception
2Ease of operation
If the robot cleaner displays cleaning results using traditional methods, then the user can receive basic information, but the user cannot intuitively check the degree of contamination and cleaned result
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses color variations in the virtual dust images to represent different contamination levels. The control unit adjusts color properties of the displayed dust particles to indicate severity, making it easy for users to quickly assess contamination without complex data interpretation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adds a visual dimension to contamination information. Instead of providing only numerical or textual data about dust levels, the system projects virtual dust images onto the screen that spatially represent dust distribution and concentration, adding a graphical dimension to the information
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 users to intuitively and accurately assess the cleanliness of each region by displaying an AR image that reflects the dust level, providing a clear visual representation of the cleaning results.
Implementation Method 1
a dust sensor configured to output a sensed signal corresponding to an amount of dust sucked in the cleaning region. The dust sensor may include a light emitting diode configured to emit light and a phototransistor configured to output the sensed signal corresponding to an amount of light emitted from the light emitting diode, and a value of the sensed signal may be changed according to the amount of light changed by the amount of dust introduced into a region between the light emitting diode and the phototransistor.
Data Source
AI summary
A robot cleaner includes a display unit, a camera unit configured to capture an image of a cleaning region when cleaning starts, a dust sensor configured to output a sensed signal corresponding to an amount of dust sucked in the cleaning region, and a control unit configured to calculate the amount of dust based on the sensed signal, to start an augmented reality (AR) mode when cleaning ends, to generate an AR image corresponding to the amount of dust, and to control the display module to superimpose the AR image on the image.