Underwater Robot Ultrasonic Navigation for Spiral Pool Cleaning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Underwater robots face challenges in accurately determining their position and efficiently cleaning pool bottoms due to limited detection range and sharp turns, which affect operation quality and longevity.
Innovation Solution
An operating method using ultrasonic radar to control the underwater robot to travel along a spiral path, starting from a position close to the pool wall, allowing for accurate positioning and comprehensive coverage of the pool bottom while minimizing sharp turns and energy loss.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the underwater robot uses limited detection range to operate, then it can work underwater, but it cannot accurately determine its position
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces ultrasonic radar as an intermediary detection device to enable the underwater robot to detect walls and obstacles. The ultrasonic radar extends the effective detection range beyond the robot's limited native sensors, allowing indirect position determination by measuring distances to environmental features and using this data for navigation and localization.
2Productivity
If the underwater robot follows S-type or snake type paths with sharp turns, then it can cover the pool bottom, but larger loss is caused affecting its life
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces sharp angular turns with curved transition paths. The spiral cleaning path and arc-shaped direction adjustments reduce mechanical stress and energy consumption by eliminating abrupt directional changes. The robot moves along smooth curves rather than sharp corners, extending its operational life while maintaining comprehensive coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic path planning that adapts the robot's trajectory in real-time. Instead of fixed rigid paths, the system continuously adjusts the cleaning trajectory to optimize for energy efficiency, smoothing out sharp turns and creating dynamically generated curved paths that reduce mechanical wear and energy loss.
3Ease of operation
If the underwater robot follows straight or S-type paths, then it can simplify navigation, but it causes sharper turns and more braking conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces straight-line navigation with curved spiral paths that eliminate sharp turns. The spiral trajectory naturally provides smooth transitions between directions, reducing mechanical stress on the robot while maintaining navigation simplicity through continuous, predictable motion patterns rather than abrupt directional changes.
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
The method enables accurate positioning and efficient cleaning of pool bottoms, reducing energy loss and extending the underwater robot's lifespan by using ultrasonic radar for navigation and spiral path planning.
Implementation Method 1
controlling the underwater robot to travel in a first direction from any first position at a bottom of a pool to a second position close to a wall of the pool based on an electrical signal from the ultrasonic radar
Data Source
AI summary
An operating method of an underwater robot based on ultrasonic radar, an underwater robot and a non-volatile storage medium is described. The method comprises: controlling the underwater robot to travel in a first direction from any first position at a bottom of a pool to a second position close to a wall of the pool based on an electrical signal from the ultrasonic radar; controlling the underwater robot to travel from the second position along the wall to a third position to generate an along-wall path; comparing the along-wall path with a pool bottom model, and determining the position information of the third position in the pool bottom model; and controlling the underwater robot to travel along a spiral path starting from the third position to traverse the whole bottom based on the position information.