Robot Cleaner Auxiliary Brush Control Near Charger Zones
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional robot cleaners lack the ability to distinguish between obstacles and additional devices within their system, leading to potential collisions and damage when the auxiliary cleaning tool extends, especially towards chargers or virtual obstacle zones.
Innovation Solution
A robot cleaner equipped with an obstacle sensing unit, auxiliary cleaning unit, and control unit that recognizes and avoids extending the auxiliary cleaning unit in designated zones, such as charger zones or virtual obstacle zones, using signal sensing and mapping technologies to navigate safely.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the auxiliary cleaning unit is extended to improve cleaning performance in wall-adjacent regions, then cleaning effectiveness is enhanced, but the risk of striking walls or additional devices increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit performs preliminary recognition of the charger zone before the auxiliary cleaning unit extends. By designating the start position of the travel path as the charger position in the cleaning region map and recognizing the charger zone in advance, the system prevents extension in areas where additional devices are located, thereby avoiding collisions while maintaining cleaning effectiveness in safe regions
2Productivity
If the robot cleaner approaches obstacles to clean effectively, then cleaning coverage is improved, but the likelihood of the auxiliary cleaning unit striking obstacles increases
Solution Approach 1:
The obstacle sensing unit continuously provides feedback about obstacles in the robot cleaner's travel path. The control unit processes this feedback information and adjusts the extension state of the auxiliary cleaning unit accordingly - extending when safe and retracting when obstacles or charger zones are detected, thereby preventing impact damage while maintaining cleaning coverage
3Adaptability or versatility
If the auxiliary cleaning unit is made extendable to reach wall-adjacent areas, then cleaning capability is enhanced, but the complexity of control systems increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit performs multiple functions using a unified approach: it manages both obstacle detection and charger zone recognition, controls the extension and retraction of the auxiliary cleaning unit, and navigates the robot cleaner's travel path. By designating the start position as the charger position and using the same mapping system for both obstacles and charger zones, the system achieves multi-functionality without proportionally increasing complexity
Data Source
AI summary
A robot cleaner includes a body to travel on a floor, an obstacle sensing unit to sense an obstacle approaching the body, an auxiliary cleaning unit mounted to a bottom of the body, to be extendable and retractable, and a control unit to control extension or retraction of the auxiliary cleaning unit when the obstacle is sensed. The control unit recognizes a zone of a charger and performs a control operation to prevent the auxiliary cleaning unit from extending in the charger zone.