Robot Cleaner Region Setting for Precise Repeated Spot Cleaning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional robot cleaners face inefficiencies in cleaning large spaces, requiring position recognition marks or laser points for region setting, which can be cumbersome and prone to malfunctions, and struggle with precise positioning and repeated cleaning of specific regions.
Innovation Solution
A robot cleaner system that allows for manual setting of desired cleaning regions without conventional position recognition marks or laser points, using a terminal device to transmit remote control signals for designated region setting and cleaning commands, enabling precise and concentrated cleaning operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If position recognition marks are mounted on the ceiling for region setting, then the robot cleaner can distinguish multiple operation regions, but the user must perform additional installation work and the recognition function may be degraded by dust or foreign materials
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the position recognition marks from the ceiling environment and extracts the region setting function to the robot cleaner itself. The robot now sets regions by autonomously moving to boundary locations and using its onboard sensors to detect walls and obstacles, eliminating the need for external mark installation while maintaining region distinction capability
Solution Approach 2:
The robot cleaner performs region setting autonomously without user intervention. It automatically navigates to boundary positions, detects walls using sensors, and establishes cleaning regions independently, transforming a user-dependent setup process into a self-service automated function
2Adaptability or versatility
If position recognition marks are mounted on the ceiling for region setting, then the robot cleaner can distinguish multiple operation regions, but the system complexity increases due to additional hardware requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the region setting functionality from the external environment (ceiling marks) and relocates it to the robot cleaner's onboard systems. This eliminates the need for additional ceiling-mounted hardware while preserving the ability to distinguish and manage multiple operation regions
Solution Approach 2:
The robot cleaner's sensors and navigation system, originally designed for obstacle avoidance and basic movement, are extended to perform region boundary detection and setting. This multi-functional use of existing components eliminates the need for dedicated region-marking hardware
3Ease of operation
If laser points from remote controller are used for region setting, then specific regions can be cleaned, but precise position detection is difficult according to bottom floor form and some points within the region cannot be reached
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the optical laser pointing system with an autonomous robotic navigation system. Instead of using line-of-sight laser beams that are affected by floor geometry, the robot physically navigates to boundary locations and uses contact-based or proximity-based sensors to detect walls and obstacles, achieving accurate position detection independent of floor surface characteristics
Solution Approach 2:
The robot autonomously performs region boundary detection by navigating to extreme points and using its onboard sensors to identify walls and obstacles. This self-service approach eliminates the need for user-pointing operations and ensures accurate region definition regardless of floor surface variations
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed are a robot cleaner, a controlling method of the same, and a robot cleaning system. The robot cleaner can perform a cleaning operation with respect to only a user's desired region, in a repeated and concentrated manner. Further, as the robot cleaner runs on a user's desired region in a manual manner, a designated region can be precisely set. Further, as the robot cleaner performs a cleaning operation by setting a user's desired region, only a simple configuration is added to a terminal device such as a remote control unit. Accordingly, additional costs can be reduced, and a malfunction can be prevented.