Determining method and control method for straight running of robot on slope plane

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional cleaning robots struggle to move straightly and maintain their path on sloping solar panels due to insufficient power, low friction, and difficulty in detecting deviations, leading to poor cleaning efficiency and increased labor costs.

Innovation Solution

A method involving a three-dimensional coordinate system and a standard direction parameter library to determine and correct the robot's movement direction using gravity acceleration vectors and magnetic sensors, ensuring the robot stays on a predetermined path by adjusting its movement accordingly.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Extent of automation

If conventional cleaning robots are applied to sloping solar panels, then cleaning automation is achieved, but the robots cannot maintain straight movement and easily deviate from the predetermined path

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecleaning automationVSAvoidpath following precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Extent of automationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a feedback control system using magnetic sensors to continuously detect the robot's position relative to the predetermined path. The system compares actual position with target position and automatically adjusts wheel speeds to correct deviations, ensuring the robot maintains accurate path following on sloping surfaces throughout the cleaning operation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces traditional mechanical path following methods with a magnetic field-based guidance system. Magnetic sensors detect the robot's position by sensing magnetic field lines, and the control system uses this information to adjust movement, substituting mechanical precision requirements with electromagnetic field-based positioning and control

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Area of stationary object

If the robot moves on sloping planes, then cleaning coverage is increased, but the robot consumes more energy and has insufficient power for free movement

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecleaning coverage areaVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic speed adjustment based on real-time position feedback. The control system continuously monitors the robot's position relative to the predetermined path and adjusts wheel speeds dynamically, increasing speed when on path and decreasing when correcting deviations, optimizing energy consumption while maintaining cleaning coverage on sloping surfaces

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the operational parameters of the robot by adjusting wheel speeds based on position feedback. The system modifies rotation speeds of drive wheels according to the robot's actual position and the required correction, enabling efficient movement on sloping surfaces with optimized energy usage

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of manufacture

If the robot is designed for leveled floors, then manufacturing cost is reduced, but the robot cannot move freely and will slide on sloping solar panels

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing simplicityVSAvoidstability on slope
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces mechanical anti-slip mechanisms with a magnetic field-based position detection and control system. Magnetic sensors detect position deviations caused by sliding, and the control system automatically adjusts wheel speeds to correct the deviation, maintaining reliable operation on sloping surfaces without complex mechanical modifications

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements a feedback control system that continuously monitors the robot's position using magnetic sensors and automatically adjusts wheel speeds to counteract sliding effects on sloping surfaces, maintaining stability without requiring significant mechanical design changes

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

4Manufacturing precision

If automatic path correction is implemented, then path following accuracy is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepath following precisionVSAvoidcontrol system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces complex mechanical positioning mechanisms with a magnetic field-based detection and control system. Magnetic sensors provide position information, and the control system processes this data to adjust wheel speeds, achieving accurate path following with simpler electronic control rather than complex mechanical structures

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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 method allows the robot to maintain a straight path on sloping surfaces, increasing cleaning efficiency and coverage area while reducing labor costs by enabling autonomous operation and real-time monitoring.

Implementation Method 1

The master control module obtains the direction information of the robot through the earth magnetic field data of the magnetic sensor

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMagnetic field induction: Electromagnetic Induction

Implementation Method 2

A tilt sensor detects gradient of the automatic working device, and sends the gradient information to a main control module

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGravity: Gravitation

Data Source

PatentEP3518065B1Determining method and control method for straight running of robot on slope plane
Publication Date: 2021.07.21 SUZHOU RADIANT PHOTOVOLTAIC TECH
  • EP3518065B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3518065B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3518065B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

A determining method and control method for straight running of a robot (100) on a slope plane (300), used for determining whether the robot (100) deviates from a set straight path by determining whether a real-time score vector (gxm1) of the acceleration of gravity (g) in the x-axis direction is the same as a standard score vector (gxm0), so as to solve the technical problem that straight running is hard to guarantee as a robot's deviation from a set straight path on a slope plane (300) is hard to find and cannot be corrected in time.