Robot Cleaner Auxiliary Tool Retraction for Edge Coverage and Speed
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Robot cleaners face inefficiencies in cleaning operations due to the lack of controlled extension and retraction of auxiliary cleaning tools, which are not synchronized with the travel pattern, leading to incomplete cleaning around obstacles and walls.
Innovation Solution
A robot cleaner with extendable and retractable auxiliary cleaning units, equipped with obstacle and dust sensors, that adjusts its cleaning mode and speed based on sensor data to efficiently clean edges and corners by extending units when sensing obstacles and retracting when not needed, and repeating extension and retraction at predetermined intervals in dusty areas.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If auxiliary cleaning tools are always extended, then cleaning coverage is improved, but cleaning efficiency and speed are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The auxiliary cleaning tools are designed to dynamically extend and retract based on real-time sensing of obstacles and walls. The control unit receives signals from sensors and adjusts the extension state of cleaning tools accordingly, transforming a static system into a dynamic one that adapts to environmental conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates sensors that continuously detect obstacles and walls, providing feedback to the control unit. Based on this feedback, the control unit adjusts the extension state of auxiliary cleaning tools in real-time, creating a closed-loop control system that optimizes cleaning performance.
2Manufacturing precision
If auxiliary cleaning tools are extended when traversing walls, then cleaning of edge portions is improved, but overall cleaning speed is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The sensors detect obstacles and walls in advance during the robot's movement, allowing the control unit to proactively extend the auxiliary cleaning tools before the robot reaches the edge portions that need cleaning. This preliminary action ensures complete cleaning without requiring the robot to slow down significantly.
Solution Approach 2:
The auxiliary cleaning tools are extended periodically when sensors detect obstacles or walls, rather than remaining extended continuously. This periodic extension maintains cleaning completeness while minimizing the time spent in extended state, thereby preserving overall cleaning speed.
3Manufacturing precision
If auxiliary cleaning units are repeatedly extended and retracted in dusty areas, then cleaning thoroughness is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
In areas with high dust concentration detected by sensors, the control unit commands repeated extension and retraction of auxiliary cleaning units at predetermined intervals. This periodic action enhances cleaning thoroughness by multiple times while limiting the total frequency to control energy consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies different extension strategies to different areas: repeated extension in dusty areas detected by sensors, and standard extension in normal areas. This localized quality adjustment optimizes cleaning thoroughness where needed while conserving energy in areas requiring less intensive cleaning.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed are a robot cleaner and a method for controlling the same, capable of controlling a travelling or cleaning pattern of a robot cleaner in accordance with extension and retraction operations of an auxiliary cleaning tool to perform an efficient cleaning operation. The robot cleaner includes a plurality of auxiliary cleaning units mounted to a bottom of the robot cleaner such that the auxiliary cleaning units are extendable and retractable, an obstacle sensor to sense an obstacle in a cleaning region of the robot cleaner, and a control unit to extend the auxiliary cleaning units while travelling in a wall tracing manner along the periphery of the cleaning region, and to retract the auxiliary cleaning units while the robot cleaner travels in an inner portion of the cleaning region when traveling of the periphery of the cleaning region is finished.