Autonomous Street Sweeper with External Sweeping Unit
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current street sweeper systems require a significant amount of manpower and complex construction to achieve maneuverability and access difficult areas, leading to high operational costs and labor expenses.
Innovation Solution
A partially autonomous street sweeper system equipped with a control unit, detection units for environment and position, and communication capabilities to guide itself and an external sweeping unit, allowing it to operate independently and reduce the need for manual intervention, with optional human operation in hazardous conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the street sweeper is equipped with only a single sweeping device, then the device complexity is low, but the productivity is reduced due to limited sweeping width and inability to handle objects outside reach
Solution Approach 1:
A sweeping unit with a sweeping element (such as a broom or brush) is introduced as an intermediary component. This sweeping unit is positioned in front of the street sweeper and is configured to push objects toward the street sweeper, thereby extending the effective sweeping range without requiring multiple complex sweeping devices on the main body of the street sweeper.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the street sweeper operates autonomously without external system communication, then the device complexity is low, but the adaptability to dynamic environments and coordination with other traffic participants is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit is designed to perform multiple functions: it controls the sweeping devices, processes data from detection units, and communicates with external systems such as traffic light control systems and other road users. This multi-functional design enables the street sweeper to adapt to different operating conditions and coordinate with various external systems while maintaining a relatively integrated control architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The street sweeper is equipped with detection units that continuously monitor the environment and provide feedback to the control unit. Based on this feedback, the control unit adjusts the operation of sweeping devices and communicates with external systems to optimize sweeping performance and ensure safe operation in dynamic traffic environments.
3Reliability
If the detection range of the detection unit is limited, then the device complexity is low, but the reliability of autonomous operation and collision avoidance is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The detection system is segmented into multiple detection units, each responsible for detecting specific types of objects or specific directions. For example, some detection units may be dedicated to detecting pedestrians, others to vehicles, and others to traffic signals. This segmentation allows the system to achieve comprehensive coverage and high reliability without requiring a single overly complex detection unit.
Data Source
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Figure 3
AI summary
A street sweeper is provided, comprising at least one sweeping element configured to move at least one object within its reach towards the street sweeper in such a way that it can be picked up by the street sweeper; at least one control unit configured to control at least the street sweeper and the at least one sweeping element; at least one detection unit configured to detect the surroundings of the street sweeper and/or to determine the position of the street sweeper; at least one communication unit configured to communicate with an external system in such a way that the street sweeper can be operated at least semi-autonomously based on information received from the external system, wherein the street sweeper either follows a sweeping unit detected by the surroundings detection unit at a defined distance, the sweeping unit being configured toto bring at least one further object from areas outside the reach of the sweeping device into the reach of the sweeping device, or is equipped with an additional sweeping device that is controlled in such a way that it can bring at least one further object detected by the environment detection unit from areas outside the reach of the sweeping device into the reach of the sweeping device.