Surface Type Sensor for Robotic Cleaners
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Robotic cleaners face challenges in detecting surface types accurately, which can lead to inefficient cleaning patterns and potential damage to surfaces, as existing technologies lack effective methods for distinguishing between different surfaces and detecting transitions or hazards during operation.
Innovation Solution
The robotic cleaner employs a surface type sensor system that uses light reflection, including infrared light, to detect surface types by comparing signals from diffuse and specular light detectors, and a drop-off detector to prevent damage by identifying transitions and hazards, allowing the cleaner to adjust its cleaning behavior accordingly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a robotic cleaner uses existing surface detection methods, then it can operate autonomously, but it cannot accurately distinguish between different surface types or detect transitions and hazards
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple sensor types (diffuse light sensor, specular light sensor, and drop-off sensor) into an integrated surface type sensor system. This merging of sensors allows the robotic cleaner to accurately detect surface types, transitions, and hazards simultaneously, resolving the contradiction between detection accuracy and device complexity by achieving comprehensive detection through coordinated sensor fusion rather than requiring separate complex systems for each function.
2Measurement precision
If the robotic cleaner uses multiple sensors to detect surface types accurately, then detection precision improves, but power consumption and processing load increase
Solution Approach 1:
The robotic cleaner operates the diffuse light sensor, specular light sensor, and drop-off sensor in periodic intervals rather than continuously. The controller activates these sensors at specific periods during operation to detect surface types and transitions, which reduces overall power consumption and processing load while still maintaining accurate surface detection capability when needed.
3Measurement precision
If the robotic cleaner uses multiple sensors to detect surface types accurately, then detection precision improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The integrated surface type sensor system is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: detecting surface types, identifying transitions between surfaces, and detecting hazards like drop-offs. This multi-functionality approach reduces overall device complexity by consolidating what would otherwise require separate detection systems into a single unified sensor assembly that accomplishes all detection tasks through coordinated operation of its component sensors.
4Reliability
If the robotic cleaner fails to detect surface transitions accurately, then it cannot avoid hazards, but adding detection capabilities increases device complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The controller serves as an intermediary that processes signals from the diffuse light sensor, specular light sensor, and drop-off sensor to determine surface types and detect transitions. By using the controller as a central processing intermediary, the system achieves reliable hazard avoidance capability through coordinated sensor fusion and signal analysis, while managing detection system complexity through a unified control architecture that integrates all detection functions rather than requiring separate complex systems for each detection task.
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
This solution enables the robotic cleaner to accurately detect surface types and avoid hazards, optimizing cleaning efficiency and preventing damage to surfaces, while reducing power consumption and processing load.
Implementation Method 1
The surface type sensor may be configured to detect a surface type based, at least in part, on light reflected from a surface to be cleaned
Implementation Method 2
The robotic cleaner employs a surface type sensor system that uses light reflection, including infrared light, to detect surface types
Data Source
AI summary
A combination surface type sensor may include a housing including a first receptacle, a second receptacle, a third receptacle, and a fourth receptacle, a first surface type detector disposed within the first receptacle, a second surface type detector disposed within the fourth receptacle, an emitter disposed within the second receptacle, and a drop-off detector disposed within the third receptacle.