Vision-Guided Vacuum Follower for Accurate Cleaning Path Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional cleaners face challenges in accurately following the suction device due to interference from obstacles and walls, leading to inefficient cleaning paths and reduced user movement interference.
Innovation Solution
A cleaner with a mobile following body equipped with an image acquisition unit and controller that uses marker information from images to adjust its travel path and maintain accurate following of the suction device, reducing interference with user movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If ultrasonic waves are used for following control, then the main body can actively follow the suction device, but the ultrasonic receiver may receive reflected waves from obstacles or walls causing following errors
Solution Approach 1:
A marker is introduced as an intermediary object attached to the suction device. The marker contains a pattern that can be visually detected by the main body's camera system. This intermediary allows the main body to accurately track the suction device's position and movement without being affected by ultrasonic reflections from obstacles or walls in the environment.
2Productivity
If the main body follows the suction device closely, then dust collection efficiency is improved, but interference with user movement increases
Solution Approach 1:
The following distance and position between the main body and suction device are made dynamic rather than fixed. The control system continuously adjusts the following parameters based on real-time position information obtained from marker detection, allowing the main body to adaptively maintain optimal following distance while avoiding interference with user movement.
3Device complexity
If passive following by tension is used, then the structure is simple, but the main body cannot actively follow the suction device
Solution Approach 1:
The passive mechanical following system based on hose tension is replaced with an active control system. The main body uses a camera to detect the marker pattern on the suction device, processes the visual information to determine position and movement, and actively adjusts its own movement to follow the suction device, thereby achieving active following capability.
Data Source
AI summary
A cleaner is disclosed. The cleaner method includes a movable body configured to be movable for suctioning dust and a following body for collecting the dust suctioned by the movable body, the following body being mobile, wherein the following body includes an image acquisition unit for acquiring an image for a view around the following body and a controller for controlling the following body to travel while following the movable body based on the acquired image.