Modular Robotic Floor Cleaner with Autonomous Base Station Maintenance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Robotic cleaning devices are not widely used in commercial settings due to the need for frequent maintenance, such as emptying debris and replacing cleaning liquids, which limits their operational duration and coverage area.
Innovation Solution
A modular robotic floor-cleaning system with a robot and a base station that allows for autonomous navigation, recharge, and module exchange, including a vacuum module, mopping module, dustbin module, cleaning fluid tank module, and rechargeable battery module, enabling extended operation without human intervention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If robotic cleaning devices are used to clean floors, then cleaning automation is achieved, but frequent maintenance (emptying debris, replacing cleaning liquid) is required which limits operational duration
Solution Approach 1:
The robotic cleaning device is equipped with automatic maintenance capabilities including self-charging at docking stations, automated debris emptying containers, and self-refilling cleaning liquid reservoirs. The robot autonomously returns to base stations to recharge batteries and empty debris bins without human intervention, enabling continuous operation across large areas.
2Extent of automation
If robotic cleaning devices operate autonomously, then labor costs are reduced, but frequent maintenance interruptions reduce productivity
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables continuous cleaning operation by automatically managing maintenance tasks. The robot docks at base stations during operation to recharge batteries and empty debris bins, then immediately returns to cleaning without human intervention. Multiple base stations can be deployed to enable parallel recharging and debris emptying operations, minimizing downtime and maximizing cleaning productivity.
3Weight of moving object
If robotic cleaning devices are designed with limited battery capacity, then device size is reduced, but operational range is limited requiring frequent returns to base station
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning system is divided into mobile robotic units and stationary base stations. The robots maintain compact size with limited battery capacity for maneuverability, while base stations provide unlimited power and debris storage. Multiple base stations are distributed throughout the cleaning area, allowing robots to perform short trips and frequent recharging without increasing individual robot size.
4Device complexity
If robotic cleaning devices require frequent human intervention for maintenance, then system complexity is reduced, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The robotic cleaning system performs all maintenance tasks autonomously including self-charging at base stations, automated debris bin emptying, and self-refilling of cleaning liquid reservoirs. The robots navigate to base stations when batteries are low or debris bins are full, and base stations automatically transfer power and materials without human intervention, greatly simplifying operation despite increased system complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
Some aspects provide a floor cleaning system, including: a robot, including: a chassis; a set of wheels; a processor; a plurality of sensors; a vacuum module; a mopping module; a dustbin module for storing debris; a cleaning fluid tank module for storing cleaning fluid; and a rechargeable battery module; and a base station; wherein: the base station is configured to empty debris stored within the dustbin module; the base station is configured to replenish the cleaning fluid tank module with cleaning fluid; and the robot navigates to the base station when a rechargeable battery charge of the rechargeable battery module is below a first threshold during operation and departs the base station to continue operation when the rechargeable battery charge is above a second threshold.