Robot Cleaner Coordination with Manual Cleaner Using Distance Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing robot cleaners do not consider user cleaning patterns or characteristics, leading to inefficient cleaning and potential interference with manual cleaners.
Innovation Solution
A robot cleaner system that identifies and follows the cleaning pattern of a manual cleaner, maintaining a safe distance to avoid interference, and completes cleaning in the same region after the manual cleaner has finished, mimicking the user's cleaning scheme.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If the robot cleaner operates independently without considering user cleaning patterns, then the robot cleaner can perform autonomous cleaning, but the cleaning efficiency is reduced and interference with manual cleaner occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The robot cleaner uses sensors to detect the presence and movement of the manual cleaner, continuously feedbacks this information to its control system, and adjusts its operation accordingly. This feedback mechanism allows the robot to respond to user cleaning patterns in real-time, avoiding interference while maintaining autonomous operation capability
Solution Approach 2:
The robot cleaner dynamically changes its operational state based on detected user activity. When a manual cleaner is detected, the robot transitions from autonomous cleaning mode to a follow-up mode, adjusting its speed, position, and cleaning intensity dynamically to match user patterns without causing interference
2Productivity
If the robot cleaner follows closely behind the manual cleaner, then it can clean the same region, but it may interfere with the user's cleaning operation
Solution Approach 1:
The robot cleaner maintains different spatial relationships with the manual cleaner based on local conditions. It keeps a safe distance when the manual cleaner is actively moving, but can approach closer when the user pauses or completes a cleaning task, optimizing cleaning coverage while avoiding interference in different local contexts
Solution Approach 2:
The control system acts as an intermediary between the manual cleaner and the robot cleaner's cleaning mechanism. It processes information about user actions and mediates the robot's response, ensuring that cleaning operations are coordinated without direct physical interference with the user's manual cleaning process
3Device complexity
If the robot cleaner operates without sensing user presence, then the system is simpler, but it cannot adapt to user cleaning patterns
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical sensing systems with electronic sensors and software-based pattern recognition. Optical sensors, ultrasonic sensors, or camera systems capture user cleaning patterns, and algorithms process this data to adapt robot behavior, achieving high adaptability with relatively simple hardware additions
Data Source
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AI summary
Provided is a method for controlling a robot cleaner including a first operation of identifying that a manual cleaner and the robot cleaner are turned on, a second operation of identifying, by the robot cleaner, a location of the manual cleaner, a third operation of moving, by the robot cleaner, to a location within a first set distance from the manual cleaner, and a fourth operation of stopping the movement of the robot cleaner when the robot cleaner is located at the location within the first set distance from the manual cleaner while the manual cleaner is moving, and performing, by the robot cleaner, cleaning while moving when the robot cleaner is located at a location within a second set distance from the manual cleaner.