Robot Cleaner Remote Control via Wi-Fi and NFC for Secure Operation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current robot cleaners face challenges in user control and security, particularly in expanding remote control functionality and ensuring secure operation, especially when users are away from home, as they often lack direct monitoring and control capabilities and may be vulnerable to hacking due to camera module exposure.
Innovation Solution
The integration of a Wi-Fi communication module within the robot cleaner that allows direct communication with external terminals, combined with a NFC module for easy AP information transfer, enables secure and convenient remote control and monitoring through a smartphone app, enhancing user control and security by providing a self-contained access point and reducing reliance on external networks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a camera module is mounted in the robot cleaner to enable security monitoring, then the security monitoring capability is improved, but the vulnerability to hacking increases as image information may be exposed to hackers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the camera module from the robot cleaner system, allowing it to be used for security monitoring without being physically present in the cleaner. The camera is positioned remotely (e.g., on a wall or ceiling) and communicates with the cleaner via wireless connection, thereby eliminating the hacking vulnerability associated with physical camera integration while maintaining monitoring capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary communication layer between the camera module and the robot cleaner. Instead of direct integration, the camera communicates through wireless protocols (WiFi, Bluetooth) and the controller processes images separately, creating a buffer that reduces direct exposure to potential hacking attacks on the cleaner's system.
2Ease of operation
If the robot cleaner operates automatically without user operation, then the convenience for users away from home is improved, but the user's ability to monitor and control cleaning operations deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the camera continuously captures images of the cleaning area and transmits them to the controller, which then relays this information to the user's terminal device. This real-time feedback loop allows users to monitor cleaning operations remotely while the cleaner operates automatically, maintaining both convenience and user awareness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates visual copies of the cleaning environment through the camera system. Instead of requiring users to be physically present, the system transmits image copies to remote terminals, allowing users to view and control cleaning operations from anywhere, thus maintaining awareness without interfering with automatic operation.
3Ease of operation
If remote control functionality is expanded through smartphone integration, then the ease of control is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes universal communication protocols (WiFi, Bluetooth) that are already present in most smartphones, allowing the robot cleaner to communicate with various terminal devices without requiring device-specific custom protocols. This multi-functionality approach simplifies the communication module design while maintaining broad compatibility and ease of control.
Data Source
AI summary
A robot cleaner includes a case, a suction device provided in the case, a suction nozzle for sucking dust from a floor by driving of the suction device, a dust collection device for collecting foreign substances contained in the air sucked via the suction nozzle, a driving unit for allowing the case to drive automatically, a controller for controlling the driving of the suction device and the driving unit, and for generating cleaning history information comprising map information on a cleaning area and moving path information, a memory unit for storing the cleaning history information; and a wireless communication module provided in the case to transmit the cleaning history information to the external terminal, when the external terminal asks the cleaning history information.