Robot Vacuum Straight-Line Maneuver Method for Small Obstacle Cleaning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing mobile, self-propelled cleaning devices, such as robot vacuums, struggle to clean areas around small obstacles effectively due to mechanical complexity and increased cleaning time, especially when navigating around objects with specific shapes or sizes, leaving uncleaned edges and corners.
Innovation Solution
A method for operating a mobile, self-propelled device that involves detecting obstacles and performing straight-line driving maneuvers from different directions, optimizing travel paths to ensure complete cleaning by using an outer and inner circle to determine the necessary number of maneuvers based on obstacle size and shape, allowing the device to clean seamlessly around small obstacles without complex mechanical assemblies.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If pivoting brushes or foldable units are used to clean edges and corners, then cleaning effectiveness is improved, but mechanical complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the complex mechanical cleaning mechanisms (pivoting brushes, foldable units) and replaces them with a simplified approach using only driving maneuvers. The cleaning function is achieved through the robot's movement patterns rather than complex mechanical assemblies, thereby reducing mechanical complexity while maintaining cleaning effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical cleaning system (pivoting brushes, foldable units) with a control-based system that uses programmed driving maneuvers. Instead of mechanical complexity to achieve edge cleaning, the solution uses algorithmic control of straight-line driving patterns, substituting mechanical complexity with computational logic.
2Manufacturing precision
If pivoting brushes or foldable units are used to clean edges and corners, then cleaning effectiveness is improved, but cleaning time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements continuous cleaning action by executing straight-line driving maneuvers that systematically cover all areas around obstacles without interruption. The method ensures that cleaning continues seamlessly through programmed movement patterns, eliminating the time loss associated with complex mechanical adjustments while maintaining continuous contact with the cleaning surface.
3Power
If additional suction channels are added for edge and corner cleaning, then suction power is improved, but the number of uncleaned areas around small obstacles remains high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the problem of insufficient cleaning coverage around small obstacles and identifies that the issue is not with suction power but with the cleaning approach. By removing the assumption that more suction channels are needed, the solution focuses on optimizing the driving maneuver strategy, achieving complete coverage through systematic straight-line passes rather than additional hardware.
Data Source
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Figure 3A~4B
Figure 5A~6
AI summary
A method for operating a mobile, self-propelled device (1), in particular a floor cleaning device such as a vacuuming and/or sweeping and/or mopping robot, is described, comprising the following steps: detecting at least one obstacle (5) in a floor cleaning area, cleaning an area surrounding the obstacle (5) by performing at least two straight-line driving maneuvers (9) at the obstacle (5) from different directions, wherein the number (N) and direction of the straight-line driving maneuvers (9) are based on the size and/or shape of the obstacle (5). A mobile, self-propelled device (1) configured to perform such a method is further described.