Robot Cleaner Rotational Navigation for Faster Obstacle Following
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Robot cleaners take a long time to reach target zones due to their wall-following algorithm, which can lead to collisions and increased battery consumption, especially in large areas with obstacles.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a control method that allows the robot cleaner to perform rotational traveling along a rotation trajectory with an arbitrary starting angle and radius, sensing obstacles to adjust speed and distance, and switching between obstacle-following and wall-following modes to optimize navigation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the robot cleaner adopts a wall-following algorithm to travel along the wall, then the robot cleaner can navigate around obstacles, but it travels at low speed and takes a long time to reach target zones
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the robot's movement pattern adaptable rather than fixed. The control unit dynamically switches between wall-following mode and direct movement mode based on real-time sensor feedback about obstacles. When obstacles are detected, the robot dynamically adjusts its trajectory to rotate around them rather than strictly following the wall, enabling speed optimization while maintaining obstacle avoidance capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the movement parameters (speed, trajectory, rotation angle) based on obstacle detection. The control unit modifies the rotation radius and rotation angle parameters when obstacles are present, allowing the robot to take more direct paths. This parameter adjustment enables the robot to maintain reliability in avoiding obstacles while significantly reducing traveling time to target zones.
2Reliability
If the robot cleaner travels at low speed along the wall to maintain constant distance, then collision with obstacles is avoided, but battery power is consumed faster due to extended traveling time
Solution Approach 1:
The robot dynamically adjusts its speed and trajectory based on obstacle detection. Instead of maintaining constant low speed, the control unit enables higher speeds during direct movement phases when no obstacles are detected, and only reduces speed when actually navigating around obstacles. This dynamic speed adjustment reduces overall battery consumption while maintaining collision avoidance reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies the skipping principle by allowing the robot to take more direct, faster paths through open spaces rather than always following the wall perimeter. When sensors detect clear paths, the robot rushes through them at higher speeds, significantly reducing the time spent traversing open areas and thereby reducing overall battery power consumption.
3Productivity
If the robot cleaner uses a preset traveling pattern such as zigzag or random pattern, then cleaning coverage is improved, but navigation efficiency to specific target zones decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic navigation system that switches between preset traveling patterns (for cleaning coverage) and direct navigation modes (for target zone reaching). The control unit dynamically determines which mode to use based on the current task - using zigzag or random patterns during cleaning phases, and switching to direct movement with obstacle rotation during navigation phases, thereby optimizing both cleaning productivity and navigation efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the robot's operation into distinct phases: cleaning phase using preset patterns and navigation phase using direct movement with obstacle rotation. This segmentation allows each phase to use the optimal traveling strategy - preset patterns for thorough cleaning coverage and direct navigation for efficient target zone reaching, without compromising either function.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein is a control method of a robot cleaner in which a robot cleaner is moved at an arbitrary starting angle along a rotation trajectory having an arbitrary rotational center and rotation radius during obstacle-following traveling, whereby an obstacle-following traveling time is reduced and consequently, a movement time of the robot cleaner is reduced.