Robotic Floor Cleaner Intensity Control Based on Environmental Events

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing cleaning robots lack flexibility and effectiveness in adjusting their cleaning intensity and frequency in response to environmental events, leading to suboptimal cleaning results.

Innovation Solution

A system that uses control means to adjust the cleaning robot's intensity and frequency based on detected environmental events, such as weather data or sensor measurements, allowing for automatic adaptation of cleaning behavior in response to external and internal conditions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If cleaning robots operate with fixed cleaning intensity and frequency, then device complexity is reduced, but cleaning effectiveness and adaptability to environmental conditions deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecleaning adaptabilityVSAvoidcontrol system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The cleaning robot dynamically adjusts its cleaning intensity and frequency based on real-time environmental conditions detected by sensors. The control means modifies operational parameters (suction power, brush speed, cleaning frequency) in response to changing environmental events such as dust levels, weather conditions, or detected objects, transforming a static cleaning system into an adaptive dynamic one.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system incorporates feedback loops where sensors continuously monitor environmental conditions and feed this information back to the control means. The control means processes this feedback and adjusts cleaning parameters accordingly, creating a closed-loop control system that optimizes cleaning effectiveness based on actual environmental conditions rather than operating with fixed predetermined settings.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If cleaning intensity is increased to improve cleaning results, then energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecleaning effectivenessVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The cleaning robot applies partial cleaning action by adjusting cleaning intensity to match actual environmental conditions. Instead of consistently operating at maximum intensity, the system applies only the necessary cleaning effort required for current conditions, using full power only when environmental sensors detect high dust levels or poor cleaning conditions, and reducing intensity when conditions are favorable.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Solution Approach 2:

The control means dynamically changes operational parameters such as suction power, brush rotation speed, and cleaning frequency based on environmental feedback. By varying these parameters in response to detected conditions, the system optimizes the balance between cleaning effectiveness and energy consumption, avoiding unnecessary high-energy operation when full cleaning intensity is not required.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3243418B1System and method for cleaning a floor with a robotic cleaner
Publication Date: 2021.03.17 VORWERK & CO INTERHOLDING GMBH
  • EP3243418B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3243418B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a system for cleaning a floor with at least one cleaning robot (2), with control means (50) for controlling the cleaning robot (2) and with communication means (52, 54) for detecting at least one environmental event, the environmental event being one of a Database determined event, in particular weather event, or an event determined by sensors and wherein the control means (50) depending on the environmental event adjust the intensity of use of the cleaning robot (2) for cleaning at least part of the floor. The system solves the technical problem of making a system and a method for cleaning a floor with a cleaning robot more flexible and with improved cleaning results. The invention also relates to a method for cleaning a floor.