Robotic Floor Cleaner Path Recording for Autonomous Cleaning Operation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Autonomous or robotic floor cleaning equipment fails to accurately recognize its surroundings and react to changes, and it also lacks the ability to monitor the status of the cleaning operation effectively.

Innovation Solution

A robotic cleaning machine equipped with a control system that includes sensors to detect objects, monitor the cleaning operation, and create a workspace map, ensuring safe navigation and efficient cleaning by integrating optical sensors, distance sensors, laser scanners, and status lights to provide real-time feedback.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If autonomous floor cleaning equipment is deployed without adequate sensor systems, then device complexity is reduced, but the ability to recognize surroundings and react to changes deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesensor system complexityVSAvoidability to recognize surroundings

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The sensor system is divided into multiple independent sensor types (optical sensors, distance sensors, laser scanners) that each perform specific functions. This segmentation allows the system to achieve comprehensive environmental awareness through coordinated operation of simpler, specialized sensor components rather than relying on a single complex sensor system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The control system integrates multiple sensor types into a unified control architecture that performs multiple functions: collision avoidance, path maintenance, cleaning operation monitoring, and workspace mapping. This multi-functional integration allows the sensor system to address various operational requirements without requiring separate dedicated systems for each function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If multiple sensors are integrated to improve navigation and cleaning monitoring, then cleaning performance consistency is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecleaning performance consistencyVSAvoidcontrol system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple sensor types (optical sensors, distance sensors, laser scanners) are merged into a single integrated control system that processes data from all sensors collectively. This merging allows the system to achieve reliable cleaning performance monitoring and navigation through combined sensor input, reducing the need for separate control systems for each sensor type.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The control system continuously receives feedback from multiple sensors regarding the machine's location, surrounding objects, and cleaning operation status. This real-time feedback enables the system to make adaptive adjustments to maintain consistent cleaning performance and navigate safely, with the feedback loop integrating data from all sensor sources to inform control decisions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Object-affected harmful factors

If real-time sensor feedback is implemented for collision avoidance and path maintenance, then safety is improved, but use of energy increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecollision riskVSAvoidenergy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The sensor system operates continuously to provide real-time feedback for collision avoidance, which may represent excessive action in terms of energy consumption. However, this continuous operation ensures high safety standards by maintaining constant monitoring of the environment. The system accepts the energy cost as necessary to eliminate collision risks entirely rather than using intermittent or reactive sensing approaches.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

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

Enhances the robotic cleaning machine's ability to avoid collisions, maintain a desired cleaning path, and ensure consistent cleaning performance by providing real-time feedback and adaptive navigation, thereby improving safety and efficiency.

Implementation Method 1

The plurality of sensors can be configured to sense a location of the robotic floor cleaning machine relative to surroundings of the robotic floor cleaning machine

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectOptical detection: Reflection

Implementation Method 2

At least two sensors from the plurality of sensors are configured to locate the robotic floor cleaning machine in overlapping areas of the surroundings

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLaser ranging: LIDAR

Data Source

PatentUS12478240B2Method of controlling a robotic floor cleaning machine

Publication Date: 2025.11.25 NILFISK AS

AI summary

A method of controlling a robotic floor cleaning machine includes driving, by an operator, the robotic floor cleaning machine along a transport path and a cleaning path. The transport path defines a path for transport of the robotic floor cleaning machine without active cleaning and the cleaning path defines a path for a cleaning operation. The method further includes recording the transport path and the cleaning path driven by the operator; defining, in a controller of the robotic floor cleaning machine, a route comprising the recorded transport path and the recorded cleaning path, and defining the cleaning operation. The robotic floor cleaning machine executes the defined route and the cleaning operation.