Robot Cleaner Sensor Assembly for Accurate Obstacle Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Robot cleaners face challenges in accurately sensing obstacles due to indirect distance calculation methods, which can result in errors, especially with curved floors and obstacles with protrusions, leading to potential sensor disconnection and data loss.
Innovation Solution
A robot cleaner design featuring a sensor unit with a main sensor that can move between a sensing and settled position, aided by a motor-driven link unit and stopper to prevent excessive rotation, and an auxiliary sensor to detect correct positioning, along with a position restoration mechanism to maintain data connectivity and prevent sensor unit displacement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the sensor protrudes out of the robot cleaner to sense obstacles directly, then the measurement precision of obstacle detection is improved, but the sensor may be pushed by obstacles and forced into the robot cleaner, causing data loss and connectivity breakage
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor is designed to dynamically change its position between protruding (sensing position) and retracted (settled position) states. A position restoration member automatically restores the sensor to the sensing position after it is pushed by an obstacle, maintaining both detection precision and data connectivity without requiring manual intervention.
2Strength
If the sensor is protected inside the robot cleaner, then the sensor is protected from damage, but the robot cleaner cannot accurately identify obstacles and the distance calculation contains errors
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor dynamically extends outside the cleaner body during operation to achieve accurate obstacle identification, then retracts when not in use or when pushed by obstacles. This dynamic positioning allows the sensor to benefit from both protection and accurate measurement capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The position restoration member is pre-configured to automatically restore the sensor to its sensing position after displacement, preventing the sensor from remaining in a protected but non-functional state and ensuring continuous accurate obstacle detection.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed are a robot cleaner. The robot cleaner includes: a cleaner body configured to move in an area and clean the area; and a sensor assembly provided in the cleaner body. The sensor assembly includes: a main sensor configured to be moveable between a sensing position where the main sensor protrudes out of the cleaner body and a settled position where the main sensor is inside the cleaner body; a sensor position changer configured to allow the main sensor to move between the sensing position and the settled position; and a stopper configured to restrict the sensor position changer from allowing the main sensor at the sensing position to move towards the settled position.