Robot cleaner and control method thereof
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Solution Overview
Problem
Robot cleaners using dry-type cleaning methods often leave foreign substances on the floor due to inability to suck up larger debris, and wet cleaning methods require user intervention to maintain water levels in the cleaning pad, causing inconvenience.
Innovation Solution
A robot cleaner equipped with a capacitance measurer to accurately measure water levels in the cleaning tool and automatically add water as needed, ensuring consistent cleaning performance without user intervention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If wet cleaning method is used to improve cleaning effectiveness, then cleaning performance is improved, but user convenience deteriorates due to manual water level checking
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses a capacitance sensor to automatically detect water levels in the cleaning pad and triggers the water supply mechanism to refill water when needed, enabling the robot cleaner to service itself without user intervention. This resolves the contradiction by maintaining high cleaning performance through wet cleaning while eliminating manual water level checking.
2Ease of manufacture
If capacitance sensor is exposed to air for easy installation, then installation simplicity is improved, but measurement accuracy deteriorates due to temperature and humidity influence
Solution Approach 1:
The capacitance sensor is embedded within the cleaning pad structure rather than being exposed externally. The sensor is nested between the pad and the housing, allowing it to directly contact the pad material and measure water content accurately while being protected from environmental factors like air temperature and humidity. This resolves the contradiction by maintaining installation simplicity through integration while achieving accurate measurements.
3Ease of manufacture
If air gap is formed between housing and sensor for assembly ease, then assembly simplicity is improved, but measurement accuracy deteriorates due to air interference
Solution Approach 1:
The air gap between the housing and capacitance sensor is eliminated by extracting the problematic space and replacing it with direct contact or minimal spacing. The sensor is positioned to be in close proximity or direct contact with the cleaning pad, removing the air layer that would interfere with capacitance measurements. This resolves the contradiction by simplifying assembly through direct integration while ensuring accurate measurements without air interference.
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
The solution allows for effective removal of debris and maintains optimal water levels in the cleaning pad, enhancing cleaning efficiency and user satisfaction by ensuring uniform cleaning performance.
Implementation Method 1
a capacitance measurer measuring capacitance of the cleaning tool assembly; and a controller calculating an amount of water of the cleaning tool assembly based on the measured capacitance
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
A robot cleaner may include a main body; a traveling assembly moving the main body; a cleaning tool assembly installed in the lower part of the main body, and contacting a floor to clean the floor; a water-feeding unit supplying water to the cleaning tool assembly; and a capacitance measurer contacting the cleaning tool assembly, and measuring capacitance of the cleaning tool assembly in order to calculate an amount of water of the cleaning tool assembly. Accordingly, by measuring an amount of water of a cleaning tool installed in a robot cleaner based on capacitance, it is possible to accurately measure an amount of water absorbed in a cleaning tool.