Autonomous coverage robot
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing manual and industrial wet floor cleaning methods are labor-intensive, inefficient, and require large, complex robots that are costly and often require operator attendance, with cleaning fluid effectiveness deteriorating due to contamination during the cleaning process.
Innovation Solution
A mobile autonomous robot equipped with a variety of proximity sensors, including infrared, sonar, and ultrasonic sensors, and a wet cleaning system that can detect obstacles and navigate autonomously, allowing for efficient wet cleaning and debris removal without human intervention, while maintaining sensor data processing and communication through an auxiliary circuit board.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If manual wet cleaning methods are used, then cleaning can be performed on household surfaces, but the process is labor intensive and time consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning system is designed to be self-sufficient by automatically refilling the cleaning fluid reservoir from the clean water container and self-rinsing the mop head by draining waste water, eliminating the need for manual intervention during the cleaning process
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical operations with an autonomous robotic system equipped with sensors and automated control mechanisms that navigate, clean, and manage fluid levels without human physical involvement
2Extent of automation
If industrial wet cleaning robots are used, then automated floor cleaning can be achieved, but the devices are large, costly, and complex requiring operator attendance
Solution Approach 1:
The robotic cleaning system is divided into modular functional components including a separate reservoir assembly, mop assembly, drive assembly, and sensor system, each performing specific functions that can operate independently yet coordinate through the central controller
Solution Approach 2:
The robot is designed with multi-functional capabilities to perform navigation, obstacle detection, cleaning, fluid management, and self-monitoring through integrated sensors, making it a compact all-in-one system rather than a large specialized machine
3Quantity of substance
If cleaning fluid is reused during the cleaning process, then fluid consumption is reduced, but the cleaning fluid effectiveness deteriorates due to contamination
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts and separates waste liquid from the cleaning fluid through the mop head rinsing process, removing contaminants from the cleaning solution to maintain its effectiveness for continued use
Solution Approach 2:
The robot drains contaminated cleaning fluid from the reservoir into a waste container while retaining clean water, effectively discarding only the contaminated portion and recovering the majority of the cleaning fluid for continued use
4Reliability
If the robot navigates autonomously using multiple sensors, then obstacle detection capability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple sensor types including infrared, sonar, and ultrasonic sensors are merged into a unified sensor system that feeds data to a single controller, coordinating their functions to achieve comprehensive obstacle detection without proportionally increasing system complexity
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 autonomous robot effectively navigates and cleans surfaces, maintaining cleaning fluid effectiveness by processing sensor data to avoid obstacles and efficiently manage cleaning fluid application and collection, reducing labor and operational costs while ensuring safe operation in various environments.
Implementation Method 1
at least one proximity sensor includes an infrared emitter having an emission field and an infrared detector having a detection field
Implementation Method 2
a variety of proximity sensors, including infrared, sonar, and ultrasonic sensors
Data Source
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AI summary
A mobile robot (100) that includes a robot body (110) having a forward drive direction (F), a drive system (120) supporting the robot body, and a robot controller (150) in communication with the drive system. The robot also includes a bumper (130) movably supported by a forward portion (112) of the robot body and an obstacle sensor system (400) disposed on the bumper. The obstacle sensor system includes at least one contact sensor (420) disposed on the bumper, at least one proximity sensor (410) disposed on the bumper and an auxiliary circuit board (450) disposed on the bumper and in communication with the at least one contact sensor, the at least one proximity sensor, and the robot controller.