Floor cleaning robot and docking station therefore
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current floor cleaning solutions for large gym spaces are inefficient due to the size and maintenance requirements of manual scrubbers, which limit cleaning frequency and space utilization, and no robotic systems can effectively clean areas over 2,500 square feet.
Innovation Solution
A robotic floor cleaning system comprising a robot with clean and dirty water tanks, a two-way valve, and a docking station that allows for autonomous operation, including drainage and refilling, charging, and scheduling, enabling efficient cleaning and maintenance of large areas.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual scrubbers are used to clean gym floors, then cleaning can be performed, but the devices are large and take up much needed space
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning system is divided into two separate components: a portable robotic cleaner for actual cleaning operations and a docking station for water storage and charging. This segmentation allows the cleaning function to be performed by a small mobile unit while the larger components remain stationary at the docking location, resolving the contradiction between cleaning capability and space occupation.
Solution Approach 2:
The water tanks and charging infrastructure are extracted from the mobile cleaning device and placed in a separate docking station. This extraction allows the robotic cleaner to be compact and mobile while the docking station houses the larger components that would otherwise require space on the gym floor.
2Ease of operation
If manual scrubbers are used for cleaning, then floor cleaning is achieved, but operation and maintenance is time intensive
Solution Approach 1:
The robotic cleaning system performs cleaning operations autonomously without requiring manual operation. The robot navigates, cleans, returns to the docking station, and recharges automatically, eliminating the time-intensive manual operation and maintenance associated with traditional scrubbers.
Solution Approach 2:
The docking station is pre-configured with water tanks and charging infrastructure, allowing the robot to quickly dock, refill, and recharge without requiring manual intervention. This preliminary preparation of the docking station enables rapid turnaround between cleaning cycles.
3Productivity
If large cleaning devices are deployed, then cleaning coverage is sufficient, but they cannot be stored locally in gym spaces
Solution Approach 1:
The system separates the mobile cleaning robot from the stationary docking station with large water tanks. The robot provides adequate cleaning coverage through autonomous operation, while the docking station is positioned in a dedicated area, allowing the gym floor space to be fully utilized for workouts.
4Reliability
If manual cleaning operations are performed frequently, then floor hygiene is maintained, but the time required limits the number of cleanings
Solution Approach 1:
The robotic system autonomously performs cleaning operations and manages its own water supply and charging needs. The robot can execute multiple cleaning cycles throughout the day without human intervention, maintaining floor hygiene more frequently than manual cleaning would allow.
Solution Approach 2:
The docking station ensures continuous operation by automatically refilling water tanks and recharging the robot between cleaning cycles. This eliminates downtime and allows the cleaning system to operate continuously, maintaining floor hygiene reliably across multiple cycles.
Data Source
AI summary
A system for autonomously cleaning a floor has a robot having a chassis. A clean water tank and a dirty water tank are disposed within the chassis. A valve in fluid communication with the dirty water tank receives dirty water from a cleaning surface during a cleaning operation. A docking station has a platform. A docking station drain communicates with the valve for receiving contents of the dirty water tank when the robot is in the docking station. A water source communicates with the clean water tank to fill the clean water tank when the robot is in the docking station. A charging structure charges the robot when the robot is in the docking station.