Robotic Floor-Cleaning Device with User-Defined Navigation Plan Input
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing robotic floor-cleaning devices often generate less efficient navigation paths compared to those selected by a user, failing to effectively avoid obstacles like cords and fragile furniture.
Innovation Solution
A robotic device equipped with sensors, a processor, and a machine-readable medium that allows users to input commands through a software application to modify maps, add subareas, label regions, adjust vacuum suction power, and schedule operations, enabling the device to replicate human-like path planning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If automatic path generation is used, then device complexity is reduced, but path efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by allowing users to pre-define navigation parameters, obstacle zones, and cleaning preferences before the robot operates. This enables the robot to execute pre-planned efficient paths while maintaining low operational complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
A communication interface acts as an intermediary between the user and the robot's navigation system. This mediator allows users to input preferences and receive map updates without increasing the robot's internal complexity, while still achieving human-like path planning efficiency.
2Productivity
If user-defined navigation plans are implemented, then path efficiency is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements partial action by allowing users to define only critical navigation parameters and obstacle zones rather than complete path plans. This reduces the burden on users while still achieving significant improvements in cleaning efficiency through selective human input.
3Productivity
If manual obstacle identification is used, then path efficiency is improved, but loss of time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary obstacle identification by allowing users to pre-mark obstacle zones and critical areas on the map before cleaning operations begin. This eliminates the need for real-time obstacle detection during cleaning, improving navigation efficiency while minimizing time investment from users.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a robotic device, including: a chassis; a set of wheels; a plurality of sensors; a processor; and a tangible, non-transitory, machine readable medium storing instructions that when executed by the processor of the robotic device effectuates operations including: receiving, with the processor, at least one command from a software application executed on an input device; and actuating, with the processor, the robotic device to execute the at least one command; wherein the software application is configured to: display a map of an environment of the robotic device; and receive at least one input designating a modification to the map, an addition of a subarea within the map, an addition of a label for a subarea within the map, a vacuum suction power, activation or deactivation of a mop or a vacuum, and a schedule of operation of the robotic device.