Robotic Side Brush Speed Control for Corner and Edge Cleaning

Solution Overview

Problem

Traditional robotic vacuum cleaners with circular-shaped main bodies are unable to effectively clean corners and edges due to their shape, which restricts their ability to move into tight spaces and collect debris efficiently.

Innovation Solution

A method of controlling the rotational speed of rotating side brushes on a robotic cleaning device based on its movement speed, allowing the brushes to reach and clean areas that would otherwise be inaccessible, such as corners and edges, by synchronizing the brush speed with the device's movement speed and maintaining a minimum threshold speed to prevent standstill.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the robotic cleaning device moves at high speed across open surfaces, then productivity is improved, but the side brush cannot effectively collect debris in corners and tight spaces

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecleaning speedVSAvoiddebris collection effectiveness

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The side brush rotational speed is dynamically adjusted based on the device's movement speed. When the device moves slowly in corners, the side brush rotates at higher speed to effectively sweep debris into the opening. When the device moves quickly across open areas, the side brush rotates at lower speed, maintaining adequate debris collection while matching the reduced relative velocity between brush and surface.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The control unit changes the rotational speed parameter of the side brush according to the movement speed parameter of the device. This parameter adjustment ensures that the side brush maintains effective cleaning capability across varying operating conditions, resolving the contradiction between high-speed productivity and reliable debris collection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If the side brush rotates at high speed to collect debris in corners, then debris collection effectiveness is improved, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedebris collection effectivenessVSAvoidenergy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The side brush rotational speed is dynamically adjusted based on the device's movement speed. When the device moves slowly in corners, the side brush rotates at higher speed to effectively sweep debris into the opening. When the device moves quickly across open areas, the side brush rotates at lower speed, maintaining adequate debris collection while matching the reduced relative velocity between brush and surface.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The control unit changes the rotational speed parameter of the side brush according to the movement speed parameter of the device. This parameter adjustment ensures that the side brush maintains effective cleaning capability across varying operating conditions, resolving the contradiction between high-speed productivity and reliable debris collection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If the side brush rotates at high speed to collect debris, then debris collection effectiveness is improved, but mechanical wear increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedebris collection effectivenessVSAvoidbrush service life

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The side brush rotational speed is dynamically adjusted based on the device's movement speed. When the device moves slowly in corners, the side brush rotates at higher speed to effectively sweep debris into the opening. When the device moves quickly across open areas, the side brush rotates at lower speed, maintaining adequate debris collection while matching the reduced relative velocity between brush and surface.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The control unit changes the rotational speed parameter of the side brush according to the movement speed parameter of the device. This parameter adjustment ensures that the side brush maintains effective cleaning capability across varying operating conditions, resolving the contradiction between high-speed productivity and reliable debris collection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS10433697B2Adaptive speed control of rotating side brush

Publication Date: 2019.10.08 AB ELECTROLUX

AI summary

A method of controlling rotating side brushes of a robotic cleaning device and a robotic cleaning device performing the method. The robotic cleaning device has a main body, a propulsion system arranged to move the robotic cleaning device across a surface to be cleaned, and a controller arranged to control the propulsion system to move the robotic cleaning device across the surface to be cleaned in accordance with navigation information. The robotic cleaning device has an opening arranged in a bottom side of the main body via which debris is removed from the surface to be cleaned, and at least one rotating side brush adjacent to the opening. The controller registers a speed with which the robotic cleaning device moves across the surface to be cleaned, and controls a rotational speed of the rotating side brush on the basis of the registered speed of movement of the robotic cleaning device.