Cleaning Robot Vertical Collision Detection Using Ring-Shaped Housing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing surface treatment devices, such as cleaning robots, are vulnerable to vertical impacts from obstacles, which can damage their distance measuring devices and disrupt navigation.
Innovation Solution
The collision detection device features two movable housing parts with a ring-shaped configuration, including a distance measuring device protected by a circular ring part and vertical contact sensors, allowing for detection of obstacles from above and lateral directions, and an actuating device that triggers signals upon impact to adjust the device's movement strategy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a distance measuring device is exposed on the surface treatment device for navigation and obstacle detection, then the device can effectively measure distances and create maps of surroundings, but the distance measuring device becomes vulnerable to vertical impacts from obstacles which can cause damage
Solution Approach 1:
The distance measuring device is nested within the ring-shaped housing structure. The ring housing forms a protective cavity that encloses the distance measuring device, allowing it to be protected from vertical impacts while remaining accessible for its measurement function. The sensor can detect obstacles through the ring structure while being physically shielded.
Solution Approach 2:
The protection strategy moves from a two-dimensional horizontal protection plane to a three-dimensional vertical protection dimension. The ring-shaped housing extends in the vertical direction to protect the distance measuring device from overhead obstacles, adding a vertical dimension to the protection geometry that prevents direct impact on the sensor.
2Reliability
If the collision detection device uses a ring-shaped housing structure to protect the distance measuring device, then vertical and lateral impacts are prevented, but the device complexity increases due to multiple movable housing parts
Solution Approach 1:
The ring-shaped housing structure serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides vertical protection from overhead obstacles, lateral protection from side impacts, and structural support for the distance measuring device. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate protective components for each direction, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The housing parts are designed to be movable relative to each other, allowing the structure to dynamically adapt to impact forces from different directions. The movable joints enable the housing to absorb and redirect impact energy while maintaining protection, providing flexible response to various collision scenarios without requiring overly rigid and complex structures.
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 configuration effectively protects the distance measuring device from vertical and lateral impacts, enabling the surface treatment device to adapt its path and prevent damage, ensuring reliable operation in various environments.
Implementation Method 1
the vertical contact sensor is designed to detect a force acting vertically on the surface treatment device
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to an automatically moving surface treatment device (1), in particular a cleaning robot, with a device housing (2) and a collision detection device (4) for detecting a collision of the surface treatment device (1) with an obstacle, the collision detection device (4) having at least one touch-sensitive Has contact sensor (5). In order to protect the surface treatment device (1) from impacts in the vertical direction, it is proposed that the touch-sensitive contact sensor (5) be a vertical contact sensor (6) which is arranged on the device housing (2) in such a way that its detection area is Surface treatment device (1) is aligned vertically during movement, so that the vertical contact sensor (6) is designed to detect a vertical force acting on the surface treatment device (1).