Usage-Based Cleaning Schedule Planning to Reduce Resource Waste
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cleaning systems require costly measurement technology or manual effort to determine contamination levels, making efficient cleaning of large environments inefficient and costly.
Innovation Solution
A system that uses detection devices to collect usage data on environmental subareas, allowing the computing device to plan and adjust cleaning activities based on actual usage, eliminating unnecessary cleaning and prioritizing high-use areas, thereby optimizing cleaning schedules and reducing costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If measurement technology is used to detect contamination levels, then cleaning effectiveness is improved, but system cost increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces usage data as an intermediary parameter that indirectly indicates contamination levels. Instead of directly measuring contamination with expensive sensors, the system uses detection devices to monitor usage patterns (foot traffic, equipment movement, etc.) which serve as a proxy for contamination risk. This mediator approach resolves the contradiction by providing reliable cleaning decisions without direct contamination measurement.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical/physical measurement system (contamination sensors) with an information-based system (usage data collection and analysis). By substituting direct physical measurement with indirect information processing, the system achieves comparable cleaning effectiveness without the high costs and complexity of specialized sensing hardware.
2Device complexity
If manual contamination assessment is used, then system cost is reduced, but time consumption and labor requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements self-service by automatically collecting, processing, and acting on usage data without human intervention. Detection devices continuously monitor the environment and automatically generate cleaning decisions based on predefined criteria. This eliminates the need for manual assessment while maintaining low system costs, resolving the contradiction between cost and time efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent establishes a continuous feedback loop where usage data is constantly collected, analyzed, and used to adjust cleaning schedules in real-time. This automated feedback mechanism replaces manual assessment, providing timely cleaning decisions without human labor while keeping system costs low through the use of simple detection devices rather than complex measurement systems.
3Ease of operation
If cleaning activities are performed based on fixed schedules, then operational simplicity is maintained, but cleaning efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the static, fixed cleaning schedule into a dynamic system that automatically adapts to changing usage patterns. The cleaning plan is continuously adjusted based on real-time usage data, allowing the system to respond to actual environmental conditions. This dynamic approach maintains operational simplicity through automated decision-making while significantly improving cleaning efficiency by targeting high-usage areas.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the key parameter for scheduling from fixed time intervals to variable usage-based triggers. By monitoring usage data and adjusting cleaning timing and intensity based on actual environmental activity, the system achieves both operational simplicity (through automated rules) and high productivity (by cleaning only when necessary).
4Reliability
If all sub-areas are cleaned regularly, then cleaning completeness is ensured, but resource waste increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by differentiating cleaning requirements across different sub-areas based on their specific usage patterns. Instead of uniform cleaning, the system identifies and targets only those areas with high usage and corresponding contamination risk. This localized approach ensures cleaning completeness for necessary areas while eliminating resource waste in low-usage areas.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements partial action by performing cleaning only on sub-areas that require it, rather than cleaning the entire environment uniformly. Based on usage data analysis, the system selectively applies cleaning resources to high-priority areas, achieving sufficient cleaning completeness where needed while avoiding excessive cleaning actions in low-priority areas, thus reducing resource waste.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a system for cleaning an environment, comprising at least one self-propelled cleaning device (1), at least one detection device (2) for detecting an environmental parameter, a computing device (3) for planning a cleaning activity to be performed by the cleaning device (1) in an environmental sub-area (4-22) depending on the detected environmental parameter, a database (23) in which a cleaning plan with at least one cleaning activity to be performed in the future is stored, wherein the cleaning activity is planned according to a time specification, and wherein the cleaning plan includes an environmental sub-area (4-22) assigned to the cleaning activity, and a control device (24) for controlling the cleaning activity based on the cleaning plan. To increase cleaning efficiency within the environmental sub-areas (4-22), it is proposed thatthat the detection device (2) is configured to detect usage data (25) relating to a currently occurring use of an environmental sub-area (4 - 22) of the environment and to transmit this data to the computing device (3), wherein the computing device (3) is configured to sum up the usage data (25) detected by the detection device (2) during a defined usage period and to plan the cleaning schedule based on the sum of the usage data (25), wherein, depending on the usage data detected by the detection device (2), the cleaning schedule is modified by omitting a planned cleaning activity for an environmental sub-area (4 - 22) in which the detection device (2) could not detect any use, and wherein a planned cleaning activity for an environmental sub-area (4 - 22) in which above-average use has taken place,The cleaning schedule is planned earlier and/or includes a longer cleaning duration.