Robot Cleaner Map Control for Targeted Area Cleaning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing robot cleaners lack efficient control mechanisms, leading to random cleaning paths and reduced effectiveness due to obstacles and varying floor conditions, necessitating the development of a method to allow users to directly set cleaning areas and optimize robot operations.
Innovation Solution
A remote control apparatus with a user interface displaying a map of the robot's travel area, allowing users to designate specific areas for intensive cleaning, avoidance, or escape routes, and generating control signals to adjust suction force and travel speed, using methods like Voronoi diagrams for area partitioning and oval fitting to optimize cleaning paths.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If the robot cleaner autonomously travels and cleans without user operation, then the device can operate automatically, but the cleaning path becomes random and effectiveness is reduced due to obstacles and floor conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The user pre-designates specific areas on the map before the robot starts cleaning. These predetermined areas guide the robot's cleaning path, allowing the robot to autonomously execute a planned route that avoids obstacles and focuses on high-priority zones, thereby combining automation with effective cleaning coverage
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides real-time feedback by displaying the robot's current position and cleaning status on a map interface. This allows users to monitor and adjust the cleaning areas dynamically, improving the overall cleaning effectiveness while maintaining autonomous operation
2Productivity
If the robot performs cleaning by partitioning areas into cells or using cleaning maps, then cleaning coverage is improved, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning area is divided into discrete cells or zones on a digital map, with each cell representing a manageable unit. Users can selectively designate specific cells for cleaning, allowing systematic coverage without requiring complex continuous path planning algorithms
Solution Approach 2:
A simplified digital map representation is created as a copy of the physical environment. This abstract map allows users to interact with a simplified version of the cleaning space, reducing the complexity of direct real-world navigation while maintaining effective area coverage
3Productivity
If users directly set cleaning areas through remote control, then unnecessary robot operations are reduced, but the ease of operation decreases due to manual control requirements
Solution Approach 1:
A digital map copy is displayed on the user interface, allowing users to interact with a simplified representation of the cleaning area. Users can tap or click on specific map areas to designate cleaning zones, which is more intuitive and efficient than traditional remote control manipulation while maintaining ease of use
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a remote control apparatus for remotely controlling a moving robot, including: a user interface unit displaying a map associated with a traveling area of a moving robot and receiving a user command associated with an operation of the moving robot; a processor selecting at least a part of the map as a designated area and generating a control signal for remotely controlling the moving robot by considering the received user command; and a wireless communication unit transmitting the generated control signal to the moving robot and receiving a response signal depending on the control signal from the moving robot.