Flexible Cleaning Element for Obstacle-Tolerant Robot Coverage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional cleaning robots with large cleaning elements face challenges in maneuverability due to protrusion, which can lead to collisions with obstacles, limiting their ability to clean small corners and angles, and require complex control adaptations.
Innovation Solution
A cleaning robot with a flexible, protruding cleaning element and a contact pressure facility that can deform vertically upon collision, maintaining floor contact and preventing damage, allowing for a larger cleaning element without adapting the control system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the cleaning element is made large to clean more area efficiently, then the cleaning efficiency is improved, but the cleaning element protrudes beyond the housing contour and collides with obstacles
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning element is made flexible rather than rigid, allowing it to deform vertically when colliding with obstacles. This flexibility enables the protruding cleaning element to bend upward upon contact, preventing damage to both the cleaning element and the obstacle, while still maintaining a large size for efficient cleaning of floor surfaces.
2Area of stationary object
If the cleaning element protrudes beyond the housing contour to increase cleaning area, then the cleaning coverage is improved, but the maneuverability and ability to clean small corners is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible cleaning element can deform not only vertically to avoid obstacles but also adapt to tight spaces and corners. This flexibility allows the cleaning element to maneuver into small corners and angles that would be inaccessible to a rigid cleaning element of the same size, thereby improving both cleaning coverage and ease of operation.
3Productivity
If the cleaning element is made large to reduce number of movements, then the productivity is improved, but the control apparatus requires adaptation
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible cleaning element's ability to deform vertically upon obstacle contact provides passive collision avoidance without requiring complex control algorithms. The physical flexibility of the cleaning element inherently handles obstacle interaction, simplifying the control apparatus while maintaining large size for high productivity.
4Productivity
If the cleaning element protrudes beyond the housing to increase cleaning width, then the cleaning efficiency is improved, but the cleaning element can be damaged upon collision
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible cleaning element can deform vertically when colliding with obstacles, absorbing impact energy through elastic deformation. This flexibility protects both the cleaning element and the obstacle from damage while maintaining a large protruding size for efficient cleaning coverage.
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
Enables efficient cleaning of large areas with fewer movements while maintaining effective cleaning in small spaces and preventing collisions, ensuring the cleaning element and obstacles are not damaged, and allows for unchanged control regardless of the cleaning element's attachment.
Implementation Method 1
the cleaning element is flexible in order to be deformed vertically in the event of a collision with an obstacle
Implementation Method 2
The contact pressure facility is designed to press a section of the cleaning element that is located below the housing against the floor surface
Data Source
AI summary
A cleaning robot with a housing and a flat cleaning element to be moved along a floor surface. A portion of the cleaning element projects from a periphery of the housing, and the cleaning element is flexible such that it can be vertically deformed when colliding with an obstacle. A pressing device for pressing a portion of the cleaning element located under the housing against the floor surface.