Robot Cleaner Power-Aware Object Management for Obstacle Navigation

Solution Overview

Problem

Robot cleaners face challenges in efficiently navigating and managing obstacles during their cleaning operations, particularly in determining whether to avoid or move objects based on power availability and object type.

Innovation Solution

A robot cleaner equipped with sensors, memory, and processors that identify objects, assess power levels, and determine whether to avoid or move objects by analyzing feature and type information, including size, mass, and texture, and adjusting its movement path accordingly.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the robot cleaner forcibly moves the obstacle, then the organizing function is provided, but the obstacle may fall over or be damaged and more power is consumed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveorganizing functionVSAvoidobstacle damage

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The robot cleaner performs preliminary sensing and analysis of the obstacle using sensors before attempting to move it. The processor analyzes the obstacle's characteristics (size, shape, material) in advance to determine the safest moving method, thereby preventing damage before it occurs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The robot cleaner changes operational parameters such as pushing force, speed, and angle based on the analyzed obstacle characteristics. By adjusting these parameters dynamically, the system can move different types of obstacles appropriately without causing damage or excessive power consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Productivity

If the robot cleaner forcibly moves the heavy obstacle, then the organizing function is provided, but it is difficult to move the obstacle and more power is consumed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveorganizing functionVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The robot cleaner performs preliminary sensing and analysis of the obstacle using sensors before attempting to move it. The processor analyzes the obstacle's characteristics (size, shape, material) in advance to determine the safest moving method, thereby preventing damage before it occurs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The robot cleaner changes operational parameters such as pushing force, speed, and angle based on the analyzed obstacle characteristics. By adjusting these parameters dynamically, the system can move different types of obstacles appropriately without causing damage or excessive power consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If the robot cleaner avoids all objects, then the cleaning path is safe, but the organizing function is not provided and cleaning efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecleaning safetyVSAvoidcleaning efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The robot cleaner applies different behaviors to different objects based on their characteristics. Instead of a uniform avoidance strategy, the system analyzes each obstacle and applies appropriate actions (avoidance, moving, or pushing), thereby maintaining safety while improving cleaning efficiency through selective interaction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS20250068182A1Robot cleaner and controlling method thereof

Publication Date: 2025.02.27 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD

AI summary

Provided is a robot cleaner includes: a sensor; at least one memory storing one or more instructions; and at least one processor, wherein the at least one processor, by executing the one or more instructions, is configured to identify a plurality of objects based on sensing data acquired through the sensor, identify a target object located on a travel surface of the robot cleaner among the plurality of objects, acquire power information indicating remaining power of the robot cleaner, determine whether to avoid the target object based on a result of comparing the power information with a threshold power value, based on the power information being less than the threshold power value, control the robot cleaner to travel to avoid the target object, based on the power information being greater than or equal to the threshold power value, acquire feature information of the target object based on the sensing data, acquire type information of the target object based on the feature information, based on the type information including a predetermined type, control the robot cleaner to travel to avoid the target object, and based on the type information not including the predetermined type, control the robot cleaner to travel based on a movement path for moving the target object to a target location.