Cleaning robot and method for controlling same
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing household surface cleaning apparatuses face issues with water seepage and potential damage to floors and charging stations when returning to a charging station with unused water, leading to erosion and short-circuit risks.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a cleaning robot equipped with a diaphragm pump assembly, a peristaltic pump, and a mechanical actuator, along with a sensor module and power module, allows for controlled water discharge and automatic navigation to prevent water accumulation and ensure safe charging.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the cleaning robot returns to the charging station with water remaining in the container, then the cleaning process can be completed, but water continues to seep and causes erosion to the floor surface and potential short-circuit risks
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by discharging water from the container before the cleaning task is fully completed. The control unit monitors the cleaning progress and triggers water discharge when the remaining area is small, preventing water accumulation at the charging station while maintaining cleaning effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit uses feedback from the cleaning progress monitoring to dynamically control the water discharge pump. By continuously tracking the remaining cleaning area and comparing it with preset thresholds, the system adjusts water discharge timing and amount to prevent over-wetting at the charging station.
2Quantity of substance
If water discharge is controlled by a diaphragm pump assembly with peristaltic pump, then water discharge amount can be controlled, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces complex mechanical water discharge control with a peristaltic pump that uses controlled squeezing of flexible tubing. This mechanical substitution provides precise water discharge control through simple rotational movement of the pump mechanism, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining accurate flow control.
3Reliability
If the cleaning robot stops water discharge early to prevent water accumulation, then floor erosion and short-circuit risks are reduced, but cleaning efficiency may be affected
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary water discharge before the cleaning task is fully completed, stopping water supply when the remaining cleaning area falls below a preset threshold. This ensures the mop remains sufficiently wet for completing the cleaning task while preventing excessive water accumulation at the charging station.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit dynamically adjusts water discharge parameters based on the remaining cleaning area. By changing the discharge threshold and rate according to real-time cleaning progress, the system optimizes the balance between maintaining cleaning effectiveness and preventing water accumulation.
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
This solution effectively prevents water accumulation and erosion, reduces the risk of short circuits, and enhances the efficiency and safety of the cleaning process by allowing controlled water discharge and autonomous navigation.
Implementation Method 1
a peristaltic pump for pumping a cleaning fluid from a container and delivering the cleaning fluid to at least one bottom water outlet
Implementation Method 2
the liquid-wetted cloth interacts with pollutants on the floor to absorb the pollutants thereon
Data Source
AI summary
An embodiment of the present disclosure provides a cleaning robot and a control method thereof. The cleaning robot includes: a chassis; a fluid applicator, carried on the chassis and configured to distribute a cleaning fluid on at least part of a cleaning width; a fluid storage apparatus, detachably connected to the chassis, wherein the fluid storage apparatus is in communication with the fluid applicator and configured to apply the cleaning fluid distributed by the fluid applicator to a floor; and a control unit, carried on the chassis and configured to control the fluid applicator to stop distributing the cleaning fluid in a case that a to-be-cleaned area of the floor reaches a preset value.