Application of localization, positioning and navigation systems for robotic enabled mobile products
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current robotic floor cleaners face limitations in cleaning reach and effectiveness due to their circular design, which restricts the size and configuration of the cleaning mechanism, and inefficient navigation strategies that lead to incomplete coverage and uneven cleaning of complex environments.
Innovation Solution
A robotic cleaner design where the cleaning apparatus forms a major part of the mobile platform, extending to the front and sides to reach walls and corners, with a flexible suspension system and sensors integrated into the cleaning pad to maintain contact with the floor and detect obstacles, allowing for efficient navigation and cleaning in tight spaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the cleaning mechanism is contained within the circular footprint of the mobile robot platform, then the robot maintains good maneuverability and stability, but the cleaning reach and effectiveness are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning robot is divided into distinct functional modules: a circular mobile platform for navigation and a separate rectangular cleaning mechanism that can extend beyond the platform boundaries. This segmentation allows each component to optimize its shape for its specific function while working together as a unified system.
Solution Approach 2:
The cleaning mechanism extends in the lateral dimension beyond the circular platform footprint, creating a composite working area that combines the circular navigation path with rectangular cleaning coverage. This dimensional extension allows the cleaning apparatus to reach walls and corners more effectively without compromising the robot's maneuverability.
2Productivity
If the cleaning mechanism extends beyond the robot's footprint to reach walls and corners, then cleaning effectiveness improves, but the robot's size increases reducing maneuverability in tight spaces
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning mechanism is designed with adjustable and retractable components that can dynamically extend beyond the platform when cleaning walls and corners, then retract to minimize the overall footprint for navigation through tight spaces. This dynamic configuration allows the robot to adapt its size to different operational requirements.
3Ease of operation
If traditional circular robot design is used, then navigation around obstacles is easier, but cleaning coverage in complex environments becomes incomplete and uneven
Solution Approach 1:
The robot combines a symmetric circular platform for navigation with an asymmetric rectangular cleaning mechanism that has different cleaning capabilities at its ends. This asymmetric design allows the cleaning apparatus to better adapt to complex environmental features such as corners, walls, and irregular floor layouts, achieving more complete and uniform cleaning coverage.
Data Source
AI summary
A robotic cleaner includes a cleaning assembly for cleaning a surface and a main robot body. The main robot body houses a drive system to cause movement of the robotic cleaner and a microcontroller to control the movement of the robotic cleaner. The cleaning assembly is located in front of the drive system and a width of the cleaning assembly is greater than a width of the main robot body. A robotic cleaning system includes a main robot body and a plurality of cleaning assemblies for cleaning a surface. The main robot body houses a drive system to cause movement of the robotic cleaner and a microcontroller to control the movement of the robotic cleaner. The cleaning assembly is located in front of the drive system and each of the cleaning assemblies is detachable from the main robot body and each of the cleaning assemblies has a unique cleaning function.