Robot Limit-Frame Start Point Selection for Accurate Area Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for controlling cleaning robots are limited in accurately defining and managing their working area, leading to incomplete or inaccurate control over movement within a specified cleaning area, which affects the robot's ability to efficiently traverse and clean designated spaces.
Innovation Solution
A method for determining a working start point within a movement limit frame by setting a limit frame on the robot's map, selecting an overlap area based on the relation between the framed area and the robot's constructed map, and determining the center point of this overlap area as the working start point, allowing for enhanced user control and adaptability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a limit frame is manually set by a user on the robot's map, then the user can define the working area according to environmental understanding, but the determination of working start point becomes complex due to various overlap scenarios between the limit frame and robot map
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the determination process into distinct cases based on the overlap relationship between the limit frame and robot map. It divides the working area into multiple map areas (first map area, second map area, third map area) and handles each segment differently, selecting working start points from appropriate segments based on their characteristics.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary classification of map areas before determining the working start point. It pre-identifies which map areas fall within the limit frame and which fall outside, and pre-determines the overlap area, so that the final working start point selection can be made efficiently based on these pre-computed results.
2Ease of operation
If the robot uses only movement track display on APP, then the control interface remains simple, but the control capability over robot working area is limited and inaccurate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a limit frame as an intermediary element between the user and the robot's working area control. This virtual boundary provides precise spatial definition without requiring complex physical barriers or modifications to the robot hardware, maintaining interface simplicity while enhancing control precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from one-dimensional movement track display to two-dimensional limit frame visualization on the map interface. This dimensional enhancement allows users to define and control the working area more precisely by specifying spatial boundaries in both x and y directions, rather than merely displaying movement paths.
3Productivity
If the robot traverses without accurate working area definition, then the traversal coverage may be incomplete, but implementing precise area control increases system complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The robot system automatically determines the working start point and manages the traversal process within the limit frame without requiring continuous user intervention. The system self-adjusts by selecting appropriate start points from pre-identified map areas and autonomously controls the traversal to ensure complete coverage within the defined working area.
Data Source
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AI summary
Disclosed are a method for determining a working start point in a movement limit frame of a robot (P) and a method for controlling movement of a robot. The method for determining the working start point includes: setting a limit frame on a map constructed by the robot (P); and selecting, according to an overlap relation between a map area framed by the limit frame and the map constructed by the robot (P), an overlap area for developing a working start point of the robot (P), and determining a center point (O1, O2, O3, O4, O5, O6, O7, O8) of the overlap area which is selected as the working start point in the limit frame of the robot (P) ; and the limit frame encloses an area for limiting a working range of the robot (P). Therefore, a user can mark out working areas of the robot (P) according to understandings of environmental characteristics, so as to enhance environmental adaptability of the working start point, such that the robot (P) working partitioning effect meeting requirements of the user is achieved, and the user can change the working areas of the robot (P) more accurately and flexibly by means of a terminal.