Autonomous surface cleaning robot
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing autonomous floor cleaning robots lack an efficient method to apply cleaning fluid effectively, often resulting in fluid being applied to wrong areas due to lack of mapping and obstacle detection, leading to inefficiencies and potential damage to surfaces.
Innovation Solution
A mobile floor cleaning robot equipped with a drive system, a cleaning assembly that includes a pad holder and a fluid applicator, and a controller that executes a cleaning routine where fluid is applied to an area equal to the robot's footprint, with the robot moving in a pattern to ensure the cleaning pad is moistened and obstacles are avoided by using a stored map and sensors for navigation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the robot applies fluid continuously during cleaning, then cleaning efficiency is improved, but fluid may be applied to wrong areas causing harm
Solution Approach 1:
The robot performs preliminary actions by mapping the environment and identifying safe areas before applying fluid. The controller stores information about walls, obstacles, and suitable flooring types in advance, then uses this pre-acquired knowledge to guide fluid application, ensuring fluid is only dispensed on appropriate surfaces while maintaining continuous cleaning operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The robot employs feedback mechanisms by continuously monitoring its position relative to mapped features and adjusting fluid application accordingly. The controller receives ongoing input from sensors about current location and environmental features, comparing this real-time data against the stored map to dynamically control fluid dispensing, preventing application to wrong areas while sustaining cleaning productivity.
2Device complexity
If the robot uses local sensing only, then device complexity is reduced, but cleaning precision and obstacle avoidance are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The robot performs preliminary environmental mapping using sensors to create a stored representation of the space, including walls, obstacles, and flooring types. This pre-acquired spatial knowledge enables precise fluid application and obstacle avoidance without requiring complex real-time sensing during cleaning, as the robot navigates and operates based on the pre-built map.
3Manufacturing precision
If the robot backs away fixed distance before spraying, then fluid application accuracy is improved, but cleaning productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The robot performs preliminary environmental mapping and position tracking before fluid application. By having this spatial knowledge pre-established, the robot can apply fluid accurately while maintaining continuous forward motion, eliminating the need to back away and reposition. The pre-acquired map enables precise fluid dispensing at the correct locations without interrupting the cleaning workflow.
Solution Approach 2:
The robot maintains continuous cleaning action by eliminating interruptions for repositioning. Instead of backing away to spray and then returning to the cleaning area, the robot continuously moves forward while the controller manages fluid application timing based on pre-stored spatial information, ensuring both accuracy and uninterrupted cleaning productivity.
Data Source
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AI summary
A mobile floor cleaning robot (100) includes a body (110) defining a forward drive direction (F), a drive system (120), a cleaning system (160), and a controller (150) in communication with the drive and cleaning systems. The cleaning system includes a pad holder (190) having a bottom surface (194b) for receiving a cleaning pad (400), and a fluid applicator (162) configured to apply fluid (172) to the floor surface (10). The controller controls the drive system and the fluid applicator while executing a cleaning routing. The cleaning routine includes applying fluid to a floor surface area substantially equal to a footprint area (AF) of the robot and returning the robot to the floor surface area in a movement pattern that moves a center (PC) and lateral edges (PR and PL) of the cleaning pad separately through the floor surface area to moisten the cleaning pad with the applied fluid.