Water Cleaning Robot Edge Mapping for Efficient Path Planning

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing cleaning devices, such as robots, operate inefficiently in water due to random movement and lack of mapping and positioning functions, leading to low efficiency in performing specific tasks.

Innovation Solution

A cleaning device equipped with detection units and a control method that allows it to determine a starting point, move along the edge of a water region, maintain a preset distance from the wall, and construct a map of the water region using position and obstacle detection data, enabling efficient path planning and obstacle avoidance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the cleaning device moves randomly without mapping and positioning functions, then the device complexity is reduced, but the operating efficiency deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperating efficiencyVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The cleaning device performs preliminary mapping of the water region before cleaning operations. The control unit constructs a map of the water region by processing detection data from detection units, enabling the device to plan cleaning paths in advance rather than moving randomly, thus improving operating efficiency without requiring complex real-time decision-making hardware

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The cleaning device uses detection units to continuously gather information about the water region and obstacles, feeds this data back to the control unit, and adjusts its movement path accordingly. This feedback mechanism enables efficient navigation and obstacle avoidance using relatively simple control logic, resolving the contradiction between efficiency and complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Measurement precision

If the cleaning device equips multiple detection units and mapping functions, then the measurement precision is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemapping precisionVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The detection units serve multiple functions: they detect obstacles, map the water region boundaries, and provide positioning information. The control unit processes detection data from multiple units to construct a comprehensive map, achieving high measurement precision through multi-functional sensors rather than specialized equipment for each function, thus limiting the increase in device complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent combines multiple detection units (front detection unit, side detection unit, and position detection unit) into a unified detection system managed by a single control unit. This merging approach achieves comprehensive mapping precision while avoiding the complexity of multiple independent systems, as the control unit integrates data from all sensors to construct the water region map

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP4703835A1Control method for cleaning device, and cleaning device
Publication Date: 2026.03.04 XINGMAI INNOVATION TECH (SUZHOU) CO LTD
  • EP4703835A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4703835A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4703835A1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

This application discloses a cleaning device control method and a cleaning device. The cleaning device operates in water. The cleaning device includes a detection unit and a control unit. The detection unit includes at least a first detection unit provided on a front portion, a second detection unit provided on a side surface, and a position detection unit. The method includes: S11: controlling the cleaning device to determine, by using at least one of the first detection unit or the second detection unit, a starting point from which the cleaning device moves along an edge and move to the starting point; S12: controlling the cleaning device to move along the edge of a target water region from the starting point by using at least one of the first detection unit or the second detection unit until the cleaning device returns to the starting point; S13: in a process in which the cleaning device moves along the edge, obtaining position data of the cleaning device by using the position detection unit and obtaining obstacle detection data by using at least one of the first detection unit or the second detection unit; and S14: constructing a target map of the target water region based on the position data and the detection data. According to the above method, in this application, the target map of the target water region can be constructed.