Robotic Floor-Cleaner Map Editing for Area-Specific Cleaning Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing robotic floor-cleaning devices generate maps of their environments that often contain errors and do not accurately represent areas that users want the device to service, limiting user customization and device efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A method and computer program product that allows users to adjust and customize the map boundaries and operation settings of robotic floor-cleaning devices through a graphical user interface, enabling precise control over device operations based on location within the map.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If the robotic device autonomously generates maps using sensors, then automation is improved, but map accuracy and representation of user-desired service areas deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
A user interface acts as an intermediary between the autonomous robotic device and the user, allowing users to view generated maps, identify inaccuracies, and manually adjust boundaries and service areas. This mediator enables correction of autonomously generated maps without reducing the overall automation of the cleaning operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary autonomous map generation to establish a baseline workspace representation, then allows users to make preliminary adjustments to boundaries and service areas before the actual cleaning operation begins. This two-stage approach combines automated efficiency with user-corrected accuracy.
2Device complexity
If the device uses a fixed cleaning operation mode, then device complexity is reduced, but adaptability to different user preferences and locations deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the workspace map into different service areas where users can assign different cleaning parameters (e.g., steam cleaning enabled in some rooms, disabled in others). Each local area can have customized cleaning properties while the overall device maintains a relatively simple operational framework.
Solution Approach 2:
The cleaning operation parameters are made dynamic and adjustable through the user interface, allowing users to modify service areas, boundary definitions, and cleaning preferences for different locations. This enables the device to adapt to various user preferences without requiring multiple fixed operation modes.
3Device complexity
If the map boundaries are strictly defined by sensor detection, then device complexity is reduced, but user control over service areas deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The user interface serves as a mediator that receives sensor-generated boundary data and allows users to manually adjust and refine these boundaries. Users can drag, resize, and reposition service area boundaries to match actual physical spaces and their cleaning preferences, providing intuitive control without requiring complex programming or configuration.
Data Source
AI summary
Some aspects provide a method for instructing operation of a robotic floor-cleaning device based on the position of the robotic floor-cleaning device within a two-dimensional map of the workspace. A two-dimensional map of a workspace is generated using inputs from sensors positioned on a robotic floor-cleaning device to represent the multi-dimensional workspace of the robotic floor-cleaning device. The two-dimensional map is provided to a user on a user interface. A user may adjust the boundaries of the two-dimensional map through the user interface and select settings for map areas to control device operation in various areas of the workspace.