Robot Vacuum Bumper Sensing for Sensitive Obstacle Disengagement

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing autonomous carriers, such as robot vacuum cleaners, lack an effective mechanism to disengage from obstacles or obstructions upon slight physical contact, relying on forceful engagement for obstacle avoidance, which is not always reliable.

Innovation Solution

A carrier design with movable front and rear sections, where the front section acts as a bumper, triggering a control signal upon contact, allowing the carrier to disengage and maneuver around obstacles through a flexible coupling mechanism and microswitch-activated control system, ensuring sensitive obstacle detection and reaction.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a forceful engagement mechanism is used for obstacle detection, then the obstacle detection reliability is improved, but the sensitivity to slight contacts deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveobstacle detection reliabilityVSAvoidsensitivity to slight contacts

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The carrier is divided into front and rear sections that can move independently. The front section acts as a separate sensing element that can engage obstacles independently, allowing the system to detect even slight contacts while maintaining overall system reliability through the segmented structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The front section is designed to be movable relative to the rear section, creating a dynamic sensing system. This dynamic configuration allows the front section to respond to slight contacts by moving independently, thereby improving sensitivity without compromising the reliability of the overall obstacle detection system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Stability of the object's composition

If the front section is rigidly fixed to the rear section, then the structural stability is improved, but the obstacle-sensing capability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural stabilityVSAvoidobstacle-sensing capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The carrier structure is segmented into front and rear sections connected by a flexible coupling mechanism. This segmentation allows the front section to move independently for obstacle sensing while the rear section maintains structural stability, resolving the contradiction between rigidity and sensing capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A flexible coupling mechanism connects the front and rear sections, allowing relative movement between them. This flexible connection enables the front section to detect obstacles by moving independently while maintaining overall structural integrity, thus preserving both stability and sensing capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

3Measurement precision

If a complex control system is implemented for obstacle avoidance, then the navigation precision is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenavigation precisionVSAvoidcontrol system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The obstacle-sensing system is designed to be self-activating. When the front section contacts an obstacle, the movement automatically triggers the actuating means, which in turn activates the control means without requiring complex external sensing or processing systems. This self-service mechanism achieves precise obstacle response while minimizing system complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces complex electronic sensing and control systems with a simple mechanical actuating means that directly converts the physical movement of the front section into control signals. This mechanical substitution achieves accurate obstacle detection and response while significantly reducing device complexity.

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

Enables the carrier to efficiently and sensitively disengage from obstacles, minimizing friction and ensuring continuous operation by providing immediate and precise control signals for navigation around obstacles, enhancing the carrier's ability to perform surface-conditioning operations.

Implementation Method 1

When the front section physically contacts an obstacle or obstruction, it will move in relation to the rear section and this movement is sensed and causes a control signal to propagate

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMechanical contact detection: Mechanical Force

Data Source

PatentUS7647144B2Obstacle sensing system for an autonomous cleaning apparatus

Publication Date: 2010.01.12 AB ELECTROLUX

AI summary

An obstacle-sensing system for carriers, particularly autonomous carriers such as robot vacuum cleaners, enables the carriers to disengage themselves from any obstacle or obstruction with which they come into physical contact and proceed past the obstacle or obstruction. The obstacle-sensing system is established by constructing a carrier to have front and rear sections which, normally, are in a neutral relationship with respect to one another but which move relative to one another when the front section physically engages an obstacle or obstruction. The relative movement activates a guidance and control system that maneuvers the carrier around the obstacle or obstruction.