Robot Mop Water Supply Control for Battery-Limited Cleaning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Robot cleaners with rotating mops face challenges in maintaining consistent wet mopping throughout their expected operation time due to unpredictable water supply, leading to incomplete cleaning and user dissatisfaction.
Innovation Solution
A robot cleaner equipped with a water supply system that adjusts the liquid delivery based on the battery state, ensuring the water in the container is exhausted within the maximum battery use time, using a water pump and controller to manage the moisture content of the mop for efficient cleaning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If water is supplied continuously to the mop during cleaning operation, then mopping performance is improved, but water may be exhausted before the battery is depleted,导致 cleaning interruption
Solution Approach 1:
The controller monitors both the water level in the water container and the battery charge state, using this feedback information to dynamically adjust the water supply rate. When water level is high and battery charge is sufficient, the system increases water supply to maintain optimal mop wetness. When water level decreases or battery charge drops, the system reduces water supply rate to ensure both water and battery last through the complete cleaning cycle, preventing interruption.
2Productivity
If water supply rate is increased to maintain wet mop condition, then cleaning efficiency is improved, but battery consumption increases, reducing operational time
Solution Approach 1:
The water supply rate is made dynamic rather than fixed. The controller continuously adjusts the water pump operation based on real-time conditions including water container level and battery charge state. During periods when battery charge is high, the system can afford higher water supply rates for efficient wet mopping. As battery charge decreases, the system automatically reduces water supply rate to conserve energy, ensuring the cleaner completes its cleaning task without interruption.
3Device complexity
If water supply is not adjusted according to battery state, then water supply system is simple, but mopping performance becomes inconsistent, with some areas cleaned by wet mop and others by dry mop
Solution Approach 1:
The controller uses feedback from water level sensors and battery state monitoring to automatically adjust water supply timing and rate. This ensures water is supplied at appropriate moments to maintain consistent mop wetness throughout the cleaning operation, preventing the inconsistency where early areas are properly wet-mopped but later areas are incorrectly dry-mopped due to water exhaustion.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system ensures steady and efficient wet mopping by controlling the liquid supply according to the battery state, maintaining optimal mop moisture and extending the cleaning duration without interruptions.
Implementation Method 1
a water pump and controller to manage the moisture content of the mop
Implementation Method 2
a mop that rotates while contacting a floor... the first cleaner and the second cleaner are rotated by the rotational motion of the first rotating member and the second rotating member. In addition, when a frictional force with the floor surface is generated, the frictional force can be used as power for moving the robot cleaner
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
Disclosed are a robot cleaner and a method for controlling the robot cleaner. A robot cleaner according to one embodiment of the present invention comprises: a body; a mop; an actuator; a battery; a water container; and a control unit. The control unit controls the amount of liquid supplied from the water container to the mop, and the supplied amount is controlled according to the state of the battery. According to an embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to provide a robot cleaner in which water is sprayed according to the expected usage time of the battery, the mop can maintain an appropriate moisture content, and uniform mopping and cleaning are performed.