Robot Cleaner Curved Path Control for Faster Zigzag Cleaning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Robot cleaners require excessive time to clean areas due to frequent stops when changing traveling directions, which increases the overall cleaning time.
Innovation Solution
A control method for robot cleaners that predetermines a cleaning path based on position data, allowing for curved traveling without stopping, using a zigzag path and wall-following methods to navigate obstacles, while maintaining reduced velocity and controlling rotating velocity to change directions smoothly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the robot cleaner stops to change traveling direction during cleaning, then it can navigate around obstacles effectively, but the cleaning time increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies curved traveling paths instead of sharp angular turns to enable smooth direction changes. The control unit generates curved paths that allow the robot to transition between straight paths without stopping, maintaining continuous motion while effectively navigating around obstacles and changing direction.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements continuous traveling without stops by replacing traditional stop-and-turn maneuvers with curved traveling segments. This maintains the cleaning action continuously while changing direction, eliminating idle time during direction changes and improving overall cleaning efficiency.
2Productivity
If the robot cleaner travels in straight lines only, then it can clean efficiently without stopping, but it cannot change direction to navigate obstacles or cover the entire area
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces curved traveling paths as an intermediate solution between straight lines and sharp turns. These curved paths enable the robot to change direction smoothly while maintaining continuous motion, thus preserving cleaning efficiency while gaining directional adaptability to navigate obstacles and cover the entire cleaning area.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent dynamically adjusts the traveling path from straight segments to curved segments based on navigation needs. The control unit generates curved paths when direction changes are required, allowing the robot to adapt its motion pattern dynamically while maintaining continuous forward progress and cleaning efficiency.
Data Source
AI summary
A robot cleaner which does not stop to change a traveling direction thereof, and a control method thereof includes setting a territory about which cleaning will be performed based on position data acquired during traveling about a cleaning area, predetermining a cleaning path to clean the territory about which cleaning will be performed, and if the cleaning path includes a zigzag traveling path, changing the traveling direction of the robot cleaner by executing curved traveling of the robot cleaner during traveling along the zigzag traveling path, thus decreasing the time required to clean an area during a change of the traveling direction of the robot cleaner.