Robot Cleaner Self-Test Control for Sensor Fault Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Robot cleaners lack a self-test capability, which can lead to malfunctions and errors during operation, affecting their stability and user safety.

Innovation Solution

A robot cleaner with a self-test mode that includes a body, driving unit, storage unit, sensing units, input unit, controller, and output unit, allowing users to execute a self-test operation by inputting a command and receiving sensing information to test the robot's components and sensors, thereby identifying and addressing potential issues.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a robot cleaner operates without a self-test capability, then the device complexity is reduced, but the reliability deteriorates due to undetected malfunctions and errors during operation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem stabilityVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The robot cleaner performs self-diagnosis and self-testing of its own components and sensors through automated test algorithms executed by the controller, enabling the system to detect and report malfunctions without external intervention

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system executes test algorithms before normal operation to detect potential malfunctions and errors in advance, preventing operational failures and ensuring system reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If a self-test mode is added to the robot cleaner, then the reliability is improved through malfunction detection, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to additional user input requirements

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem stabilityVSAvoidease of operation

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The self-test mode operates autonomously once initiated, requiring minimal user interaction and automatically executing comprehensive diagnostic routines without manual guidance

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Measurement precision

If comprehensive sensing information collection is implemented during self-test, then the measurement precision is improved for detecting component states, but the device complexity increases due to multiple sensors and test algorithms

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesensing information accuracyVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The controller serves multiple functions by executing both normal cleaning control algorithms and self-diagnostic test algorithms, utilizing existing sensors for both operational sensing and diagnostic measurement purposes

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS8800101B2Robot cleaner and self testing method of the same

Publication Date: 2014.08.12 LG ELECTRONICS INC

AI summary

Disclosed are a robot cleaner and a self testing method thereof. The robot cleaner performs a self test when being initially operated or when required by a user. This may prevent malfunctions or breakdowns of the robot cleaner. Furthermore, the robot cleaner senses states of components and sensors mounted therein, and performs a self test based on characteristics, output values, etc. of the components and the sensors. This may prevent accidents or errors which may occur as the robot cleaner operates.