Autonomous planar surface cleaning robot
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current autonomous cleaning robots for vertical planar surfaces, such as windows, are either cumbersome, expensive, or lack effective safety mechanisms to avoid dangerous situations like falling off due to vacuum pressure loss during operation.
Innovation Solution
An autonomous planar surface cleaning robot with a main body, a driving mechanism, a vacuum source, a vacuum sensor, and a control unit that adjusts direction when the vacuum pressure drops below a predetermined level, ensuring the robot remains attached to the surface and avoids hazards.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If autonomous cleaning robots are designed to be lightweight and compact for household use, then ease of operation and convenience are improved, but structural complexity increases and reliability may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback control system where vacuum sensors continuously monitor the vacuum pressure in real-time and provide signals to the control unit. When the vacuum pressure drops below a threshold (indicating potential fall hazard), the control unit automatically responds by adjusting the driving mechanism to turn the robot away from the edge. This closed-loop feedback ensures reliable safety response in a compact design.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit is pre-programmed with safety protocols that automatically activate when vacuum pressure drops. The system performs preliminary safety checks continuously during operation and has pre-established response protocols (turning away from edge) ready to execute immediately when hazards are detected, eliminating the need for complex manual safety mechanisms.
2Reliability
If the robot includes feedback control mechanisms to detect dangerous conditions, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control system uses simple binary feedback from vacuum sensors (vacuum pressure above or below threshold) to trigger predetermined responses. This feedback mechanism provides reliable safety detection without requiring complex control algorithms, maintaining system simplicity while ensuring dependable hazard detection and response.
Solution Approach 2:
The robot autonomously monitors its own vacuum pressure levels and automatically responds to hazards without external intervention. The control unit self-manages the safety protocols, adjusting the driving mechanism based on sensor input, which simplifies the overall system architecture by eliminating the need for separate complex safety management systems.
3Reliability
If the robot turns direction automatically when vacuum pressure drops, then reliability is improved, but loss of time occurs during the turning response
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit maintains readiness to execute turning maneuvers at all times during operation. When vacuum pressure drops below the threshold, the pre-programmed response protocol activates immediately, minimizing response time. The system has predetermined turning sequences prepared in advance, allowing rapid reaction to hazards without complex real-time decision-making delays.
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
The robot effectively cleans vertical surfaces while maintaining attachment and safety, being lightweight, easy to use, and responsive to pressure changes, thus preventing falls and ensuring efficient operation.
Implementation Method 1
autonomous cleaning robots that suction to vertical planar surfaces such as a window pane using negative air pressure, e.g., vacuum
Data Source
AI summary
Autonomous planar surface cleaning robots are disclosed. The robot includes a main body having a bottom portion defining an outer portion defining a surface area about a perimeter thereof and an inner portion defining a cavity formed within the outer portion. The main body supports a driving mechanism, a vacuum source, a vacuum sensor, and a control unit. The vacuum source, cavity, and vacuum sensor are in fluid communication. The control unit is electrically coupled to the driving mechanism, the vacuum source, and the vacuum sensor, and is configured to control the robot to turn direction when the control unit receives a signal from the vacuum sensor indicating that a degree of vacuum pressure within the cavity is below a predetermined vacuum pressure. Also disclosed is robot that includes multiple vacuum sources. Also disclosed is an apparatus that includes a connector pole.