Mobile UV Disinfection Robot for Autonomous Coverage Verification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Mobile disinfection devices, such as mobile robots, often fail to efficiently disinfect all contaminated surfaces and require operator supervision, lacking autonomous mapping and disinfection capabilities.
Innovation Solution
A mobile robot system that autonomously maps an area, emits UV light to disinfect surfaces and objects, generates exposure maps, and outputs disinfection reports based on sensor data and user commands, allowing for efficient disinfection without continuous operator intervention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If mobile robots are used for disinfection, then disinfection coverage can be improved, but operator supervision is still required which reduces autonomy
Solution Approach 1:
The mobile robot performs self-mapping of the environment using sensors, self-planning of disinfection trajectories, and self-execution of UV disinfection operations without requiring operator supervision. The system autonomously determines whether areas have been disinfected and generates disinfection reports independently.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses sensors to detect surfaces and objects, receives feedback on disinfection status, and adjusts the disinfection trajectory accordingly. The robot continuously monitors whether areas have been adequately disinfected and modifies its path to ensure complete coverage.
2Productivity
If mobile robots perform disinfection operations, then productivity can be improved, but efficiency in disinfecting all contaminated surfaces is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The mobile robot performs preliminary mapping of the environment using sensors before beginning disinfection operations. This preliminary action creates a detailed map of surfaces and objects, enabling the robot to plan an efficient trajectory that ensures complete disinfection coverage without missing contaminated areas.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the disinfection trajectory based on real-time sensor feedback and the generated environment map. The robot can adapt its path to ensure all surfaces receive adequate UV exposure while maintaining efficient movement through the space.
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, autonomous disinfection of indoor areas by ensuring all surfaces are disinfected with appropriate UV dosage levels, providing detailed disinfection reports and minimizing human oversight.
Implementation Method 1
Using a light source of the mobile robot, ultraviolet (UV) light may be emitted to disinfect at least a portion of the area, including at least one of air, a surface, and/or an object
Data Source
AI summary
Implementations of the disclosed subject matter provide a method of mobile disinfection that includes positioning a mobile robot in an area to be disinfected and receiving a command to perform disinfection at the mobile robot. The processor may determine whether the area is cleared for disinfection based on one or more signals outputted from the one or more sensors of the mobile robot when it is determined that the area is already mapped. A light source of the mobile robot may emit ultraviolet (UV). The processor may generate a two dimensional (2D) map or a three dimensional (3D) map based on at least one of the surface and the object that are detected by a sensor as the mobile robot moves, and an exposure map of at least one of the air, the surface, and/or the object exposed by the emitted UV light in the area to be disinfected and dosage levels of the emitted UV light applied as the mobile robot moves.