Autonomous surface cleaning robot
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional methods for cleaning tiled floors and countertops often require manual scrubbing and the use of wet mops, which can be time-consuming and inefficient, especially for large areas or repetitive tasks.
Innovation Solution
An autonomous mobile robot equipped with a cleaning assembly that includes a pad holder, fluid applicator, and controller, capable of executing a cleaning routine that applies fluid to the floor surface and moves the cleaning pad in a pattern to effectively scrub and remove dirt, using a combination of forward and reverse movements and fluid application strategies to optimize cleaning efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If manual scrubbing and wet mops are used to clean tiled floors, then cleaning can be performed, but it is time-consuming and inefficient
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning system is designed to be self-sustaining by automatically applying fluid to the floor and self-moistening the cleaning pad through a coordinated movement pattern, eliminating the need for continuous human intervention and significantly improving cleaning efficiency while reducing time consumption
Solution Approach 2:
The robot applies fluid to the floor surface in advance before the cleaning pad reaches that area. This preliminary fluid application ensures that the floor is pre-wetted for effective cleaning, and the pad is moistened during its travel through the fluid application zone, optimizing the cleaning process
2Duration of action of moving object
If the robot applies fluid continuously at high flow rate, then the cleaning pad is moistened quickly, but fluid is wasted and the pad becomes overly saturated
Solution Approach 1:
The fluid applicator operates in periodic cycles with alternating high and low flow rates. The high flow rate phase quickly moistens the cleaning pad when it is dry, while the low flow rate phase maintains adequate moisture without excessive saturation, optimizing both pad moistening speed and fluid conservation
Solution Approach 2:
The controller monitors the cleaning pad's moisture level and adjusts the fluid application rate accordingly. When the pad is dry, fluid is applied at a higher rate to quickly moisten it; when the pad is sufficiently moistened, the flow rate is reduced to prevent over-saturation and fluid waste
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 system frees up human time by autonomously cleaning surfaces, ensuring thorough coverage and effective removal of dirt and stains with minimal manual intervention, improving efficiency and convenience.
Implementation Method 1
returning the robot to the area in a movement pattern that moves the center and lateral edges of the cleaning pad separately through the area to moisten the cleaning pad with the applied fluid
Implementation Method 2
moisten the cleaning pad with the applied fluid
Data Source
AI summary
A mobile floor cleaning robot includes a body defining a forward drive direction, a drive system, a cleaning system, and a controller. The cleaning system includes a pad holder, a reservoir, a sprayer, and a cleaning system. The pad holder has a bottom surface for receiving a cleaning pad. The reservoir holds a volume of fluid, and the sprayer sprays the fluid forward the pad holder. The controller is in communication with the drive and cleaning systems. The controller executes a cleaning routine that includes driving in the forward direction a first distance to a first location, then driving in a reverse drive direction a second distance to a second location. From the second location, the robot sprays fluid in the forward drive direction but rearward the first location. The robot then drives in alternating forward and reverse drive directions while smearing the cleaning pad along the floor surface.