Conveying Robot Scheduling for Multi-Array Solar Panel Cleaning
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing solar panel cleaning systems face inefficiencies and high costs due to the need for multiple cleaning robots and the inability of robots to directly cross space intervals between solar panel arrays, leading to suboptimal resource utilization and increased hardware costs.
Innovation Solution
A robot scheduling method that includes a cleaning robot and a conveying robot, where the method involves task generation, route planning, and docking control to optimize the transfer and scheduling of cleaning robots among solar panel arrays, utilizing operation region information and task information to determine the necessary number of robots and planning optimal routes for the conveying robots.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If one cleaning robot is installed on each solar panel, then cleaning coverage is improved, but hardware cost and resource waste increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning robot is designed to perform multiple functions: it can clean solar panels and also serve as a payload for the conveying robot during transportation. The robot integrates cleaning mechanisms that can be deployed when stationed on panels, while also having docking interfaces for conveyance, making it a multi-functional unit that reduces overall system complexity and cost.
Solution Approach 2:
The conveying robot acts as an intermediary that enables a single cleaning robot to access multiple solar panel locations. The conveying robot transports the cleaning robot between different panel arrays, allowing one cleaning robot to service multiple locations sequentially rather than requiring dedicated cleaning robots at each location.
2Productivity
If cleaning robots are deployed to cover all solar panels, then cleaning efficiency is improved, but the cost of hardware and resource utilization worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the cleaning function into two separate specialized units: a cleaning robot responsible for panel cleaning operations and a conveying robot responsible for transportation. This segmentation allows each robot to be optimized for its specific function, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining high cleaning efficiency through coordinated operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system configuration is made dynamic through the conveying robot that can transport the cleaning robot to different locations as needed. Rather than a static deployment where each panel has its own robot, the system dynamically allocates the cleaning robot to different panel arrays based on cleaning needs, optimizing resource utilization while maintaining high efficiency.
3Productivity
If multiple cleaning robots are used to cover large space intervals, then cleaning capability is improved, but resource waste and hardware cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The conveying robot serves as an intermediary transportation platform that enables the cleaning robot to traverse large space intervals between solar panel arrays. Instead of deploying multiple cleaning robots to cover these intervals, the single cleaning robot is transported by the conveying robot to each location, eliminating resource waste while maintaining cleaning capability across the entire facility.
Solution Approach 2:
The cleaning robot is designed with universal capabilities to be transported by the conveying robot while maintaining its cleaning function. This multi-functionality allows the same cleaning robot to service multiple distant locations without requiring additional robots, thereby reducing resource waste while preserving comprehensive cleaning capability across large spatial intervals.
Data Source
AI summary
A robot scheduling method. Robots include a cleaning robot for performing cleaning operations in a cleaning region and a conveying robot for transporting the cleaning robot in an aisle region. The robot scheduling method includes a task generating step, a task issuing step, a route planning step, a travel controlling step, and a docking controlling step.