Robot Cleaner Suction Control for Carpet Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional robot cleaners apply a uniform suction force regardless of the floor material, resulting in reduced cleaning performance on carpets, where it is difficult to suction foreign matter due to varying frictional forces.
Innovation Solution
A robot cleaner with a controller that adjusts the pulse width modulation (PWM) duty ratio of its agitator and side brushes based on battery voltage and acceleration sensor data to increase suction force when a carpeted floor is detected, allowing for adaptive cleaning performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If uniform suction force is applied regardless of floor material, then device complexity is reduced and ease of operation is improved, but cleaning performance deteriorates on carpeted floors
Solution Approach 1:
The robot cleaner dynamically adjusts the rotational speed of the agitator motor based on detected floor material type. The controller receives acceleration sensor data, determines whether the floor is carpeted or hard, and accordingly modifies the PWM duty ratio to the agitator motor, enabling the system to adapt its cleaning force to match the specific floor conditions rather than operating with fixed uniform parameters
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operational parameters (rotational speed via PWM duty ratio) of the agitator motor based on detected floor material characteristics. By monitoring acceleration patterns and determining floor type, the controller adjusts the duty ratio parameter to optimize cleaning effectiveness for either carpeted or hard floors, thereby resolving the contradiction between simplified operation and reliable cleaning performance
2Reliability
If suction force is increased for carpeted floors, then cleaning performance is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The robot cleaner applies localized quality adjustment by modifying the agitator rotational speed specifically for carpeted floor conditions while maintaining different parameters for hard floors. The controller selectively increases PWM duty ratio only when carpet detection is confirmed through acceleration sensor data, ensuring enhanced cleaning performance is applied locally to the specific floor type that requires it rather than uniformly across all surfaces
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts energy consumption by continuously monitoring acceleration patterns and modifying agitator motor speed in real-time based on detected floor material. This dynamic parameter adjustment ensures energy is consumed at higher levels only when and where needed (on carpeted surfaces), rather than maintaining consistently high energy usage regardless of floor type
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 robot cleaner effectively increases suction force on carpeted floors, improving cleaning performance by sensing floor material changes and adjusting rotational speeds of motors to enhance dust and dirt removal.
Implementation Method 1
an acceleration sensor to measure acceleration of the cleaner body in a vertical axis direction
Implementation Method 2
A robot cleaner with a controller that adjusts the pulse width modulation (PWM) duty ratio of its agitator and side brushes
Data Source
AI summary
A robot cleaner and a method for controlling a robot cleaner are provided. The method may include sensing a stored value of a pulse width modulation (PWM) duty ratio based on a voltage of a battery; comparing a measured value of the PWM duty ratio with the stored value to calculate a difference between the measured value and the stored value; upon determining that the difference between the measured value and the stored value is equal to or greater than a first set value, calculating a distributed value of acceleration on a substantially vertically extending axis of the robot cleaner; and, upon determining that the distributed value of acceleration deviates from a range of a second set values, increasing a force to suction foreign matter.