Autonomous Cleaning Robot Bumper Design for Vertical Bump Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing autonomous cleaning robots face challenges in detecting vertical bumps, which are essential to prevent wedging under furniture, as horizontally aligned switches cannot detect vertical forces, leading to increased costs and complexity with the need for additional sensors.
Innovation Solution
A bumper and outer shell design that translates vertical forces into horizontal movement, allowing horizontally actuated switches to detect vertical bumps, thereby eliminating the need for additional sensors and reducing manufacturing costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If horizontally aligned switches are used to detect bumps, then horizontal bump detection is achieved and manufacturing cost is reduced, but vertical bump detection capability is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The bumper incorporates a ramp surface that converts vertical impact forces into horizontal movement. When an object strikes the bumper vertically, the ramp surface redirects this force horizontally, causing the bumper to move laterally and actuate the horizontally aligned switch. This dimensional transformation allows a single-axis switch to detect both horizontal and vertical bumps without requiring additional sensors.
2Adaptability or versatility
If additional vertical bump sensors are added to detect vertical forces, then vertical bump detection capability is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The horizontally aligned switch is designed to perform multiple functions: detecting both horizontal bumps directly and vertical bumps through the ramp-mediated horizontal movement. This multi-functional approach eliminates the need for separate vertical bump sensors, maintaining system simplicity while achieving comprehensive bump detection capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The ramp surface acts as an intermediary element that translates vertical impact forces into horizontal movement. This intermediary mechanism enables the horizontally aligned switch to indirectly detect vertical bumps without requiring the switch itself to be sensitive to vertical forces, thus avoiding the need for additional vertical sensors.
3Measurement precision
If multiple switches are used to detect movement along a vertical plane, then horizontal bump detection coverage is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
By incorporating the ramp surface, the system transforms the detection problem from requiring multiple switches arranged vertically to using a single horizontally aligned switch. The ramp converts vertical impacts into horizontal movements that the single switch can detect, achieving comprehensive detection coverage without increasing the number of switches.
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
Enables effective detection of vertical bumps without additional sensors, preventing wedging and reducing the complexity and cost of the control system, while maintaining efficient obstacle avoidance during cleaning missions.
Implementation Method 1
an outer shell and a bumper mounted to the outer shell and movable with respect to the outer shell. The outer shell can include a ramp configured to engage the bumper and translate vertical forces to a horizontal movement of the bumper
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2
Figure 3A~3C
AI summary
An autonomous mobile cleaning robot can include an outer shell and a bumper. The outer shell can include a rim extending around at least a portion of a periphery of the outer shell and can include a first feature connected to the rim. The bumper can be connected to the outer shell and can movable with respect to the outer shell when the bumper is connected to the outer shell. The bumper can include a second feature connected to the inner surface.