Mobile Cleaning Robot Point Navigation via Remote Terminal

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current mobile vacuum cleaning robots have limited user control options, restricting their functionality and usability.

Innovation Solution

A mobile unit equipped with a drive device, navigation unit, and transmission device for wireless data exchange, allowing users to specify points and actions via a mobile terminal, enabling location-based instructions and simplified navigation, along with integrated sensors and actuators for enhanced functionality.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the mobile unit operates autonomously without user intervention, then the device complexity is reduced and ease of operation is improved, but the adaptability and versatility of the mobile unit are limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser control optionsVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

A mobile terminal serves as an intermediary device between the user and the mobile unit. The terminal receives user input, processes it into navigation instructions, and transmits them to the mobile unit via wireless communication. This mediator approach enables complex user control capabilities without directly increasing the complexity of the mobile unit itself, as the processing burden is shifted to the separate terminal device.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If the user controls the mobile unit directly with left-right and forward-backward controls, then the ease of operation is improved, but transmission latencies disturb the user and navigation efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenavigation efficiencyVSAvoidtransmission latency
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The user selects a destination point on a displayed map before the mobile unit begins navigation. The terminal calculates the optimal path in advance and transmits the complete navigation sequence to the mobile unit before movement starts. This preliminary action approach eliminates the need for real-time control during movement, avoiding transmission latencies that would otherwise disturb the user and reduce navigation efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Adaptability or versatility

If the mobile unit performs multiple actions at designated points, then the adaptability and functionality are improved, but the device complexity and ease of operation worsen

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovefunctionalityVSAvoidcontrol simplicity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The mobile unit is designed with multi-functionality to perform various actions at designated points, including cleaning operations, security monitoring, and data collection. A single platform executes multiple functions through software control rather than requiring separate hardware systems for each function. This universal approach enables extended functionality while maintaining relatively simple hardware architecture, though software complexity increases to manage the diverse action types.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP3646126B1Mobile unit, mobile terminal, and associated method
Publication Date: 2021.12.29 BSH HAUSGERATE GMBH
  • EP3646126B1 patent drawingFigure 1a~1b
  • EP3646126B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3646126B1 patent drawingFigure 3a~3b

AI summary

The invention relates to a mobile unit (1), in particular a mobile cleaning robot, a mobile terminal and an associated method. The mobile unit includes a drive mechanism (2) for moving the mobile unit in an environment, a navigation unit (7) for directing the mobile unit within the environment, and a transmission device (9) for wireless data exchange. According to the invention, the mobile unit is designed to receive a point (26) in the environment via the transmission unit and drive to said point by means of the navigation unit and the drive mechanism.