Method for operating a mobile, self-propelled appliance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users of mobile, self-propelled cleaning appliances face complexity in managing cleaning schedules, especially when multiple rooms need frequent cleaning or unforeseen events interrupt tasks, leading to incomplete or cancelled cleaning jobs.
Innovation Solution
A method where users specify cleaning tasks and parameters on a portable device, allowing the appliance to autonomously generate and adapt a schedule within predetermined time windows, ensuring flexible and automatic task allocation, including rescheduling of missed tasks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the user manually manages cleaning schedules for multiple rooms and frequent cleaning tasks, then the cleaning frequency and coverage can be controlled, but the complexity of schedule management increases significantly for the user
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning robot autonomously generates and manages its own cleaning schedule based on user-defined preferences and boundary conditions. The system automatically allocates cleaning tasks to specific time windows without requiring user intervention, thereby reducing scheduling complexity while maintaining high cleaning frequency and coverage
Solution Approach 2:
The user pre-configures cleaning preferences, frequency requirements, and boundary conditions in advance. The robot then uses these pre-set parameters to automatically generate detailed schedules, eliminating the need for manual schedule management while ensuring cleaning tasks are performed at the desired frequency
2Reliability
If the cleaning robot executes fixed cleaning schedules, then task execution can be planned in advance, but unforeseen events such as user interruptions or closed doors can prevent task completion
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning schedule is dynamically adjusted based on real-time conditions. When unforeseen events occur (user interruption, closed door, etc.), the robot detects these changes and automatically reschedules affected tasks to alternative time windows within the same day or to subsequent days, maintaining task completion while adapting to changing conditions
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors execution status and environmental conditions during cleaning tasks. When a task cannot be completed as scheduled, the robot receives feedback about the interruption and automatically adjusts the schedule accordingly, ensuring reliable task completion while responding adaptively to unforeseen events
3Ease of operation
If the user specifies detailed cleaning schedules for each room and time, then task allocation can be precise, but the user must maintain complex listings and manually adjust for changes
Solution Approach 1:
The robot autonomously generates detailed cleaning schedules based on user-defined preferences and automatically adjusts them when changes occur. The user only needs to specify high-level requirements (which rooms, how often, time windows), and the system handles all detailed scheduling and rescheduling automatically, eliminating manual schedule maintenance while preserving user control
Solution Approach 2:
The user pre-configures cleaning preferences, frequency requirements, and acceptable time windows in advance. The robot then automatically generates specific schedules within these boundaries and handles all adjustments for unforeseen events without requiring user time for schedule management, thus reducing time loss while maintaining ease of operation
Data Source
AI summary
A method operates a mobile, self-propelled appliance, in particular a floor-cleaning appliance such as a robot vacuum cleaner and/or robot sweeper and/or robot mop. In which method a user predefines, on a portable accessory, which cleaning tasks are to be performed in a predefined time window and determines a number of performances in this predefined time window and also further cleaning parameters and/or boundary conditions. The mobile, self-propelled appliance automatically generates a task allocation as to when which cleaning tasks are performed in the predefined time window with the provided cleaning parameters and/or boundary conditions.