Robot cleaner, remote control system including the same, and control method thereof

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current robot cleaners lack the capability to sense and control environmental parameters such as temperature, humidity, and air pollution levels within a cleaning area, and do not have a remote control system to adjust these conditions effectively.

Innovation Solution

A robot cleaner equipped with environment information detecting units, communication units, and a control unit that can transmit and receive data to adjust environmental conditions, including an air purifying unit for deodorizing or sterilizing air, and a method for generating control commands based on sensed data and messages from a terminal device via an SNS server.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If multiple sensors are installed to detect environment information, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenvironment information detection accuracyVSAvoidsensor system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The robot cleaner integrates multiple sensing functions into a unified control system that can detect temperature, humidity, and air quality information. The control unit processes various environment information types through a single integrated architecture, reducing system complexity while maintaining comprehensive detection capabilities.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

Multiple sensors for detecting different environment information (temperature, humidity, air pollution) are merged into a single integrated sensing system. The sensors work together as a coordinated unit, sharing common processing resources and communication interfaces, which reduces overall system complexity while improving measurement precision through data fusion.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Extent of automation

If the robot cleaner autonomously controls home appliances, then extent of automation is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveautonomous environment controlVSAvoidcontrol system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Extent of automationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The robot cleaner autonomously monitors environment information and automatically generates control commands for home appliances based on detected conditions. The system serves itself by making independent decisions about when and how to control connected devices, eliminating the need for manual intervention while managing complexity through rule-based automation logic.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The control unit continuously receives environment information from sensors, compares current conditions against target ranges, and automatically adjusts home appliance operations accordingly. This closed-loop feedback system enables autonomous control by constantly monitoring environmental parameters and making real-time adjustments to maintain optimal conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Adaptability or versatility

If the robot cleaner transmits data through SNS server, then adaptability is improved, but loss of time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveremote control capabilityVSAvoidcommunication response time
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The robot cleaner pre-processes environment information and prepares control commands locally before transmission. By performing preliminary data processing and command generation on the robot itself, the system reduces the amount of data that needs to be transmitted through the SNS server, thereby minimizing communication delays while maintaining remote adaptability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3258825B1Robot cleaner, remote control system including the same, and control method thereof
Publication Date: 2020.01.29 LG ELECTRONICS INC
  • EP3258825B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3258825B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3258825B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

A robot cleaner includes an environment information detecting unit configured to obtain environment information regarding at least a portion of a cleaning area, a first communication unit configured to transmit and receive data to and from a different device positioned within the cleaning area, and a control unit configured to generate a control command regarding the different device in order to adjust the obtained environment information.