Extendable Arm Mobile Sanitization System for Hard-to-Reach Areas
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sanitization systems for mobile platforms, such as ships and aircraft, face challenges in effectively disinfecting hard-to-reach areas due to their configuration, requiring portable and efficient methods that can reach beneath seats, luggage stowage compartments, and other difficult-to-access surfaces while ensuring a desired level of sanitization.
Innovation Solution
A mobile sanitization system comprising a movable trolley with an extendable arm, ultraviolet light sources, and a nozzle system for dispensing liquid disinfectant, controlled by a processor that manages interlock conditions, speed, and disinfectant dosage, allowing for targeted and efficient disinfection of surfaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a portable sanitization system is used to enable mobility between routes, then the system can be deployed flexibly, but the system cannot effectively reach hard-to-access surfaces such as beneath seats and in luggage stowage compartments
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs an extendable arm with telescopic sections that can be extended and retracted, allowing the sanitization device to reach into hard-to-access areas while maintaining a compact form when retracted. This dynamic structure enables the portable system to adapt its reach without sacrificing mobility.
Solution Approach 2:
The extendable arm adds a dimensional capability to the portable system, extending the reach in the horizontal dimension while the vertical dimension remains compact when the arm is retracted. This allows the system to access surfaces at various depths without increasing its overall footprint when not in use.
2Adaptability or versatility
If an extendable arm is added to reach hard-to-access areas, then the system can sanitize more surfaces, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The extendable arm is divided into multiple telescopic sections that can extend and retract independently. This segmentation allows the system to achieve extended reach capability while maintaining a compact configuration when retracted, reducing the overall structural complexity compared to a rigid extended structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The telescopic sections of the extendable arm are nested within each other when retracted, similar to a nested doll structure. This nesting principle allows the system to achieve a compact form factor when the arm is not in use, minimizing the increase in device complexity while still providing extended reach capability when needed.
3Reliability
If liquid disinfectant is dispensed continuously to ensure thorough sanitization, then the disinfection effectiveness is improved, but the disinfectant consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The liquid disinfectant is dispensed in periodic pulses rather than continuously, synchronized with the movement of the extendable arm. This periodic dispensing ensures that surfaces are adequately sanitized while reducing overall disinfectant consumption compared to continuous application.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates sensors that detect the presence and type of surfaces, providing feedback to the control system. Based on this feedback, the liquid disinfectant dispensing is adjusted dynamically - increasing application on high-touch surfaces and reducing it on already-clean areas, optimizing both effectiveness and consumption.
4Productivity
If the trolley moves at higher speed to improve productivity, then the sanitization process is faster, but the disinfection quality may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses periodic pulsing of the liquid disinfectant and ultraviolet light sources that is synchronized with the trolley's movement speed. This ensures that even at higher speeds, the disinfection agents are applied in adequate amounts and for sufficient duration to maintain disinfection quality.
Solution Approach 2:
Speed sensors provide real-time feedback on the trolley's movement velocity to the control system. Based on this feedback, the system dynamically adjusts the dispensing rate of liquid disinfectant and the intensity/duration of ultraviolet light exposure, ensuring that disinfection quality is maintained regardless of the trolley's speed.
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 system enables thorough and efficient disinfection of all surfaces on a mobile platform, including hard-to-reach areas, by using extendable arms and controlled dispensing of disinfectants, ensuring effective reduction of bacteria and viruses while optimizing disinfectant usage.
Implementation Method 1
at least one ultraviolet light source coupled to the arm, and the at least one ultraviolet light source is configured to illuminate to disinfect at least one surface
Implementation Method 2
the at least one nozzle is coupled to at least one of the trolley and the arm, and the at least one nozzle is configured to dispense the liquid disinfectant to disinfect the at least one surface
Data Source
AI summary
A mobile sanitization system includes a movable trolley having an arm that is extendable between a first position in which the arm is in a collapsed state and a second position in which the arm is extended outwardly. The mobile sanitization system includes at least one ultraviolet light source coupled to the arm that is configured to illuminate to disinfect. The mobile sanitization system includes a source of liquid disinfectant and at least one nozzle fluidly coupled to the source of liquid disinfectant. The nozzle is coupled to at least one of the trolley and the arm, and the nozzle is configured to dispense the liquid disinfectant. The mobile sanitization system includes a spray wand removably coupled to the trolley and fluidly coupled to the source of liquid disinfectant. The spray wand is removable from the trolley to dispense the liquid disinfectant to disinfect a targeted area.