Robot Cleaner Region Prioritization for Battery-Efficient Cleaning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional robot cleaners require frequent battery charging and inefficient energy management, leading to prolonged cleaning times and potential damage from user interaction with internal components during operation.
Innovation Solution
A robot cleaner that divides the cleaning target area into prioritized regions based on battery consumption, allowing for strategic charging and cleaning planning, where it selects regions to clean based on available battery capacity and returns to the charging station to minimize unnecessary movement and optimize energy use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the robot cleaner continuously cleans without returning to charge, then cleaning productivity is improved, but the battery will be depleted and cleaning will stop
Solution Approach 1:
The robot cleaner performs preliminary actions by returning to the charging station before the battery is completely depleted. The control unit monitors battery level and initiates charging when energy falls below a threshold, ensuring the robot is recharged in advance before it would stop cleaning, thus maintaining continuous productivity
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback by continuously monitoring the battery energy level and using this information to control the charging behavior. The control unit receives battery level signals and automatically decides when to return to charge, creating a closed-loop system that balances cleaning productivity with energy management
2Use of energy by moving object
If the robot cleaner returns to charging station frequently, then battery energy is maintained, but cleaning time is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The robot performs partial charging actions by returning to the charging station only when battery energy falls below a predetermined threshold rather than charging continuously or at fixed intervals. This partial action approach maintains sufficient energy for cleaning while minimizing unnecessary charging trips that would waste time
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operational parameter of battery energy threshold to determine charging behavior. By setting a specific threshold level, the robot adjusts its charging frequency based on energy consumption patterns, optimizing the balance between maintaining battery energy and maximizing cleaning time
3Extent of automation
If the robot cleaner operates without external intervention, then automation is improved, but internal components may be damaged from user interaction
Solution Approach 1:
The robot cleaner performs self-service by autonomously monitoring its own battery status and independently returning to the charging station when energy is low. This self-service capability eliminates the need for user intervention in charging decisions, maintaining high automation while preventing users from accessing and potentially damaging internal components
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit acts as an intermediary between the battery system and the user. It manages battery monitoring and charging decisions, serving as a mediator that handles all battery-related operations automatically, thereby protecting internal components from direct user interaction while maintaining system reliability
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a method for controlling a robot cleaner, the method comprising: a preparatory step of dividing a cleaning target area input by an user into a plurality of to-be-cleaned regions and identifying a battery consumption required for cleaning each region; a determination step of determining whether the robot cleaner requires additional charging to clean the cleaning target area based on a current battery residual amount of the robot cleaner; upon determination that the additional charging is required, a selection step for selecting a first region, wherein the first region is defined as one combination selected from combinations of to-be-cleaned regions among the plurality of to-be-cleaned regions which are determined to be able to be cleaned using the current battery residual amount of the robot cleaner; and a first cleaning step of cleaning the first region.