Determination of an environmental influence in a household
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing technologies for determining environmental influences in households are costly and inflexible, requiring multiple sensors for fine-grained scanning, which not every household can afford or implement effectively.
Innovation Solution
Utilizing a hand-held vacuum cleaner as a mobile platform to detect local environmental influences by capturing physical parameters in its vicinity and providing a warning if these parameters exceed predetermined thresholds, thereby eliminating the need for additional position sensors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If multiple stationary sensors are distributed throughout a household to achieve fine-grained environmental sensing, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and cost increase substantially
Solution Approach 1:
The vacuum cleaner is transformed from a single cleaning function device into a multi-functional platform that simultaneously performs cleaning and environmental monitoring. The sensor system leverages the vacuum cleaner's existing mobility and household penetration to provide environmental data collection without requiring dedicated stationary sensor installations throughout the home.
Solution Approach 2:
The vacuum cleaner serves dual purposes: it cleans the household while simultaneously monitoring environmental parameters. The device's regular operation throughout the household allows it to self-collect environmental data without requiring separate monitoring infrastructure, thereby reducing overall system complexity.
2Measurement precision
If a large number of sensors are deployed to monitor local environmental influences, then measurement precision is improved, but cost increases substantially
Solution Approach 1:
The vacuum cleaner platform integrates environmental sensing capabilities into an existing household appliance, eliminating the need for separate dedicated sensor deployments. This multi-functional approach reduces overall system cost while maintaining monitoring precision through the vacuum cleaner's regular household presence.
Solution Approach 2:
The solution favors deploying a single vacuum cleaner unit with integrated sensors rather than multiple expensive stationary sensor nodes. The vacuum cleaner's temporary presence in different locations during regular use provides sufficient data coverage at lower cost compared to permanent sensor installations throughout the household.
3Reliability
If stationary sensors are used to monitor environmental parameters, then reliability is improved, but adaptability to different locations decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from static stationary sensors to a dynamic mobile monitoring platform. The vacuum cleaner moves throughout the household during regular operation, dynamically adapting its monitoring locations to different rooms and areas while maintaining reliable data collection through its sensor-equipped design.
Solution Approach 2:
The vacuum cleaner serves as a universal monitoring platform that adapts to various household locations through its regular cleaning operations. Instead of requiring location-specific sensor installations, the mobile platform naturally visits different areas, providing both reliability through consistent monitoring and adaptability through location flexibility.
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 approach allows for cost-effective and widespread implementation of environmental monitoring in households, providing timely warnings and improving living climate conditions without the need for expensive equipment or complex technology.
Implementation Method 1
detecting a predetermined physical parameter in the vicinity of a handheld vacuum cleaner
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
A method for determining a local environmental impact in a household comprises steps of capturing a predetermined physical parameter within the range of a handheld vacuum cleaner while the vacuum cleaner is in use in the household; determining that the determined parameter exceeds a predetermined limit; storing the exceedance and associating the exceedance with a previously stored exceedance; and providing a warning if a frequency of stored exceedances exceeds an associated predetermined threshold.