Autonomous Wet Floor Cleaner Fluid Pooling Mitigation Strategy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Autonomous wet surface cleaners face challenges with fluid pooling, which can lead to undesirable finishes, increased drying times, and other issues due to the continuous dispensing of cleaning fluid without human operator control.
Innovation Solution
The autonomous wet floor cleaner employs a fluid pooling mitigation strategy by adjusting its behavior in response to certain events, such as slowing down or encountering obstacles, to control the drive system, cleaning fluid dispenser, and recovery system, thereby reducing, remedying, or preventing fluid pooling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If the autonomous floor cleaner continuously dispenses cleaning fluid during operation, then sufficient cleaning fluid is available for wet cleaning, but cleaning fluid pools on the floor causing undesirable finishes and excessive drying times
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses periodic sensing and control actions to monitor floor conditions and adjust fluid dispensing accordingly. The floor condition sensor periodically detects fluid accumulation, and the controller periodically adjusts the dispensing rate or activates recovery operations to prevent pooling while maintaining adequate cleaning fluid availability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback control by using floor condition sensors to detect pooling conditions and feeding this information back to the controller. The controller then adjusts the fluid dispensing rate or activates the recovery system based on the detected conditions, creating a closed-loop control system that prevents pooling while maintaining effective cleaning.
2Reliability
If the autonomous floor cleaner slows down or stops to prevent collision with obstacles, then navigation safety is improved, but cleaning fluid pools between the brush roller and squeegee
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by detecting when the cleaner is approaching an obstacle or will need to slow down/stop, and proactively adjusts the fluid dispensing rate before the pooling condition occurs. This preventive adjustment prevents fluid accumulation while maintaining navigation safety.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the fluid dispensing rate based on the current operating state, including speed and proximity to obstacles. When the cleaner slows down or stops, the dispensing rate is automatically reduced or paused, creating a dynamic response that prevents pooling during navigation maneuvers.
3Extent of automation
If no human operator is present to control fluid dispensing, then automation is improved, but the system cannot reactively remediate pooling conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides self-service by using onboard floor condition sensors to autonomously detect pooling conditions and activate the recovery system without human intervention. The controller monitors sensor inputs and automatically initiates remedial actions, enabling the cleaner to self-correct pooling issues while maintaining full automation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from floor condition sensors to detect pooling and triggers automated recovery operations. The sensor data feeds back to the controller, which then activates the recovery system to remove excess fluid, creating an autonomous feedback-loop that remediate pooling without human operators.
4Productivity
If the cleaner dispenses more cleaning fluid to ensure sufficient wet cleaning, then cleaning effectiveness is improved, but pooling increases and drying time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the fluid dispensing rate based on real-time floor condition sensor feedback. When pooling is detected, the dispensing rate is reduced or paused, and recovery operations are activated. This dynamic adjustment maintains adequate cleaning fluid application while preventing excessive accumulation that would extend drying time.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes operational parameters by adjusting the fluid dispensing rate and recovery system activation based on detected floor conditions. When pooling is detected, parameters are changed to reduce dispensing and increase recovery, optimizing the balance between cleaning effectiveness and drying time.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for adjusting behavior of an autonomous wet surface cleaner to avoid, reduce, or remedy situations where too much cleaning fluid is left on the surface. During certain autonomous floor cleaner events excess cleaning fluid can pool beneath the cleaner. For example, a cleaning fluid pool can form as the cleaner slows or stops approaching an obstacle, becomes stuck in a location, or executes certain navigation routines, such as certain turning maneuvers or cleaning patterns. The cleaning fluid pooling can be mitigated by executing a cleaning fluid pooling mitigation strategy that prevents the cleaning fluid from pooling, reduces the amount of cleaning fluid that pools, or addresses the cleaning fluid pooling. The cleaning fluid pool mitigation strategies can include various adjustments to the drive system, dispenser system, recovery system, and other autonomous wet surface cleaner systems, and combinations thereof.