Autonomous cleaning robot with vertically movable cleaning head
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Solution Overview
Problem
Autonomous cleaning robots face difficulties in crossing obstacles like door thresholds and carpets due to the need to maintain a close proximity to the floor for effective suction, limiting their accessibility to areas such as under furniture.
Innovation Solution
The autonomous cleaning robot features a telescopic suction tube that can change configurations to allow the cleaning head to move between extended and retracted positions, enabling it to overcome obstacles by adjusting its height and distance from the surface, allowing it to vacuum effectively while navigating challenging terrain.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the cleaning head is kept close to the floor for effective suction, then cleaning performance is improved, but the robot cannot cross obstacles like door thresholds and carpets
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning head is made dynamically adjustable in height through a telescopic support structure. The support can extend to lower the cleaning head for effective surface cleaning, and retract to raise the cleaning head for crossing obstacles. This dynamic adjustment allows the system to adapt between two operational states: cleaning mode with high performance and crossing mode with obstacle adaptability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the main body height is reduced to cross obstacles, then obstacle-crossing ability is improved, but the main body cannot accommodate waste collection devices
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning system is segmented into two independent components: the main body and the cleaning head. The main body retains its standard height to accommodate waste collection devices, while the cleaning head can be independently adjusted in height via the telescopic support. This segmentation allows the main body to maintain volume for waste collection while the cleaning head provides obstacle-crossing capability.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the cleaning head is retracted to cross obstacles, then obstacle-crossing ability is improved, but the cleaning head cannot reach inaccessible areas under furniture
Solution Approach 1:
The telescopic support structure provides dynamic length adjustment. When extending, it increases the reach distance to access areas under furniture. When retracting, it reduces the overall height to cross obstacles. This dynamic length modification allows the cleaning head to adapt between reaching mode and crossing mode.
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 configuration enables the robot to easily cross obstacles and reach inaccessible areas, maintaining high cleaning performance while being simple, economical, and reliable.
Implementation Method 1
a suction unit which is attached to the main body and which is configured to generate an airflow through the suction opening, the suction tube and the waste collection device
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 4~5
Figure 6~8
AI summary
The autonomous cleaning robot (2) comprises a main body (3); a cleaning head (5) mounted to move relative to the main body (3) between deployed and retracted positions; and a suction tube (11) mechanically connecting the cleaning head (5) to the main body (3) and movable between first and second tube configurations. The autonomous cleaning robot (2) is configured such that a change in the configuration of the suction tube (11) from the second tube configuration to the first tube configuration causes the cleaning head (5) to move from the deployed position to the retracted position along a retraction stroke, including a portion of the retraction stroke during which the cleaning head (5) is moved relative to the main body (3) in a movement that includes at least one vertical component, resulting in the cleaning head (5) being lifted.