Debris evacuation for cleaning robots
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Solution Overview
Problem
Autonomous cleaning robots face challenges in efficiently evacuating debris from their cleaning bins without human intervention, as existing systems may not effectively manage airflow and debris collection, potentially leading to incomplete evacuation and potential damage to the robot's vacuum system.
Innovation Solution
The evacuation station includes a housing with a suction opening, an evacuation vacuum, and a detachable debris canister, along with sealing members and sensors to manage airflow and debris collection, ensuring efficient evacuation of debris from the cleaning bin and protecting the robot's vacuum system. It also features a robot-compatibility sensor, canister sensor, motor-current sensor, and wireless communication for status updates.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If the robot autonomously evacuates debris using its own vacuum system, then it can operate independently without human intervention, but the vacuum system may be damaged by debris accumulation or incomplete evacuation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the debris evacuation function from the robot's own vacuum system by introducing a separate base station with a dedicated evacuation vacuum. The base station's vacuum system is physically separated from the robot, allowing debris to be evacuated from the robot's cleaning bin without subjecting the robot's vacuum system to the stresses of handling accumulated debris. This extraction resolves the contradiction by enabling autonomous evacuation while protecting the robot's vacuum system from damage.
Solution Approach 2:
The base station acts as an intermediary between the robot and the final debris disposal location. The evacuation vacuum in the base station serves as a mediator that transfers debris from the robot's cleaning bin to external storage, preventing direct contact between the robot's vacuum system and the debris accumulation process. This intermediary mechanism allows autonomous operation while ensuring the robot's vacuum system remains protected from debris-related damage.
2Reliability
If the robot returns to the base station for debris evacuation, then debris can be effectively removed from the cleaning bin, but the robot loses productive cleaning time during docking and evacuation
Solution Approach 1:
The robot autonomously navigates to the base station and docks for evacuation without requiring human intervention, performing the evacuation process as a self-service operation. The system automatically detects when evacuation is needed and executes the docking and debris removal sequence independently. This self-service capability enables effective debris removal while minimizing human downtime, as the robot can quickly complete evacuation and return to cleaning operations without waiting for human operators.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements periodic evacuation cycles where the robot autonomously returns to the base station at predetermined intervals or when the cleaning bin reaches a threshold fill level. This periodic action pattern allows the robot to maintain high productivity by conducting brief, efficient evacuation sessions rather than continuous operation, ensuring the cleaning bin is regularly emptied without excessive downtime. The controller manages these periodic cycles to optimize the balance between evacuation effectiveness and cleaning productivity.
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 solution enables efficient and automated debris evacuation from the cleaning bin, preventing vacuum damage and providing real-time status updates, ensuring continuous operation of the autonomous cleaning robot.
Implementation Method 1
an evacuation vacuum in fluid communication with the suction opening and operable to draw air into the evacuation station housing through the suction opening
Implementation Method 2
the sealing member includes a flexible and resilient flap adjustable from a closed position to an open position in response to operation of the vacuum of the evacuation station
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
A robot floor cleaning system (10,10') features a mobile floor cleaning robot (100,100') and an evacuation station (200,200'). The robot includes: a chassis (102) with at least one drive wheel (142a, 142b) operable to propel the robot across a floor surface; a cleaning bin (122, 122 ', 122") disposed within the robot and arranged to receive debris ingested by the robot during cleaning; and a robot vacuum (120) configured to pull debris into the cleaning bin from an opening (109,109') on an underside of the robot. The evacuation station is configured to evacuate debris from the cleaning bin of the robot, and includes: a housing (202,202') defining a platform (206,206') for receiving the cleaning robot with the opening on the underside of the robot aligned with a suction opening (216) of the platform; and an evacuation vacuum (212) operable to draw air into the evacuation station housing through the suction opening.