Systems and methods for cleaning robots

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing cleaning robots are unable to effectively navigate and clean complex, narrow, or varied spaces due to their large size and lack of fine motor control.

Innovation Solution

A cleaning robot equipped with high-fidelity sensors and advanced navigation strategies, allowing it to maneuver and clean in tight spaces by altering its course based on sensor data.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If cleaning robots are designed with a large cleaning footprint to clean wide open areas, then they can cover more area per unit time, but they cannot maneuver into narrow or complex spaces

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecleaning coverage areaVSAvoidmaneuverability in narrow spaces

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The cleaning robot employs dynamic navigation strategies that allow it to adapt its movement patterns and cleaning footprint based on the spatial characteristics of the environment. The robot can transition between different operational modes to optimize for either coverage area or maneuverability depending on the situation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The robot utilizes high-fidelity sensors to detect environmental parameters and dynamically adjusts its operational parameters such as speed, turning radius, and cleaning pattern to effectively navigate and clean both wide open areas and narrow complex spaces

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Productivity

If conventional cleaning robots use large size design for wide area cleaning, then they can clean more space efficiently, but they lack fine motor control for tight spaces and corners

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecleaning efficiencyVSAvoidfine motor control

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The robot incorporates high-fidelity sensors that provide real-time feedback about the robot's position, orientation, and surrounding environment. This feedback enables precise control algorithms to adjust motor commands for accurate navigation and cleaning operations in tight spaces while maintaining overall cleaning efficiency

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces traditional mechanical control systems with advanced sensor-based control and algorithms. High-fidelity sensors and computational algorithms provide the fine motor control needed for tight spaces, substituting purely mechanical approaches with a sensor-controlled system

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Adaptability or versatility

If cleaning robots are designed to navigate complex environments with varied shapes and sizes, then they can adapt to different physical environments, but large size robots cannot effectively maneuver or navigate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenvironmental adaptabilityVSAvoidmaneuverability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The robot employs dynamic navigation strategies that allow it to adapt its movement patterns and cleaning footprint based on the spatial characteristics of the environment. The robot can transition between different operational modes to optimize for either coverage area or maneuverability depending on the situation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS20250036140A1Systems and methods for cleaning robots

Publication Date: 2025.01.30 PROCTER & GAMBLE CO

AI summary

A robot is described herein comprising high fidelity sensor control (e.g., via joystick or other data rich sensors) for robotic cleaning and navigation strategies. The robot may be sized or dimensioned for maneuvering for cleaning, disinfecting, or otherwise improving a physical environment (e.g., living spaces, office spaces, or the like), especially those having narrow or varied spaces created by obstacles within the physical environment. The cleaning robot as described herein provide solutions for overcoming problems that arise from cleaning target areas or environments that have typically been hard for conventional robots to clean, fit, and/or maneuver within.