Docking station for autonomous floor cleaner
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Solution Overview
Problem
Autonomous floor cleaners face challenges in navigating and aligning with docking stations for charging and bin emptying, leading to operational limitations such as difficulty in docking and effective cleaning around the docking area.
Innovation Solution
A docking station with multiple transmitters for encoded beam detection, spring-loaded charging contacts, and an optical switch, combined with an autonomous floor cleaner equipped with passive IR receivers and time-of-flight sensors for navigation, enables reliable automatic docking and obstacle avoidance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If automated docking processes using IR beams are used, then the floor cleaner can autonomously navigate to the docking station, but it still exhibits difficulty in properly aligning with the docking station
Solution Approach 1:
The docking station transmits multiple separate IR beams (first IR beam, second IR beam, third IR beam) at different locations and angles. The floor cleaner has multiple corresponding IR receivers that detect these segmented beams independently, allowing the cleaner to triangulate its position and achieve precise alignment through cumulative detection rather than relying on a single beam.
2Ease of operation
If the floor cleaner autonomously returns to the docking station, then manual intervention is reduced, but the cleaner has difficulty cleaning around the docking station effectively
Solution Approach 1:
The IR beams are transmitted at different angles and from different spatial locations around the docking station (front, side, and angled positions). This creates a three-dimensional detection field that allows the floor cleaner to approach and clean around the docking station from multiple directions, not just from a single predetermined path, thereby maintaining autonomous operation while improving cleaning effectiveness in the docking area.
3Reliability
If spring-loaded charging contacts are used, then reliable electrical contact is established during docking, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The spring-loaded charging contacts automatically engage and disengage through mechanical spring force without requiring external actuation or complex control systems. When the floor cleaner approaches the docking station, the spring-loaded contacts are compressed and automatically make electrical contact with the cleaner's charging contacts, then automatically disengage when the cleaner moves away, providing reliable charging connection through self-service mechanical action.
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 allows for efficient and reliable automatic docking, charging, and bin emptying of autonomous floor cleaners, improving their operational efficiency and convenience by reducing manual intervention and enhancing navigation around obstacles.
Implementation Method 1
at least one transmitter that can transmit at least one encoded beam for detection by the robot
Implementation Method 2
passive IR receivers and time-of-flight sensors for navigation
Implementation Method 3
time-of-flight sensors for navigation
Implementation Method 4
spring-loaded charging contacts
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 4
AI summary
A docking station for charging an autonomous floor cleaner includes a transmitter that can transmit a signal for detection by the robot. The docking station can include an opaque shroud for the transmitter and/or spring-loaded charging contacts. The autonomous floor cleaner can comprise a passive receiver that detects signals emitted from the docking station and a time-of-flight sensor for position/proximity sensing. The robot can selectively turn off the time-of-flight sensor when docking with or avoiding the docking station. Methods for docking, re-docking, low power charging, docking station avoidance, obstacle response during docking, and close-proximity docking are disclosed.