Primary-Secondary Cleaning Robot System for Narrow-Area Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Large commercial cleaning robots are limited by their size and inability to access narrow or confined areas, requiring manual intervention for cleaning tasks in such spaces.
Innovation Solution
A cleaning robot system comprising a primary robot and a secondary robot, where the primary robot collects environmental parameters to identify inaccessible zones and commands the secondary robot to perform cleaning tasks within those zones, utilizing different sensors and communication technologies for coordination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of moving object
If a large commercial cleaning robot is used to achieve longer battery endurance and larger trash capacity, then the robot can perform cleaning tasks for extended periods, but the robot cannot access narrow or confined areas
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning robot system is divided into a primary robot and multiple secondary robots. The primary robot handles open area cleaning with its larger capacity and longer endurance, while secondary robots are deployed to clean narrow or confined areas that the primary robot cannot access. This segmentation allows each robot to be optimized for specific cleaning scenarios.
Solution Approach 2:
Secondary robots are stored within the primary robot's body structure, specifically in a storage compartment. When the primary robot identifies areas requiring secondary robots, it deploys them from its storage compartment to the target locations. This nesting approach allows the system to maintain a compact form factor while providing access to multiple robot sizes and capabilities.
2Quantity of substance
If the primary robot's body size is increased to hold more trash and extend operation time, then the robot's capacity and endurance improve, but the robot's range of motion and ability to reach certain floor areas are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the cleaning function between a primary robot optimized for capacity and endurance, and secondary robots optimized for accessing confined spaces. The primary robot maintains its large body size for trash capacity, while secondary robots handle the flexible access to narrow areas.
Solution Approach 2:
Secondary robots act as intermediaries between the primary robot and hard-to-reach areas. The primary robot deploys secondary robots to locations it cannot physically access, allowing the system as a whole to overcome the primary robot's mobility limitations without compromising its trash capacity.
3Productivity
If manual intervention is used to clean inaccessible areas, then complete cleaning coverage is achieved, but labor requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The primary robot autonomously identifies areas it cannot clean and automatically deploys secondary robots to those locations. The system performs self-service by detecting its own limitations and compensating through autonomous deployment of specialized secondary robots, eliminating the need for manual intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The primary robot uses sensors to detect environmental parameters and identify inaccessible areas. Based on this feedback, it automatically determines when and where to deploy secondary robots, creating a closed-loop system that achieves complete cleaning coverage through autonomous decision-making.
Data Source
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AI summary
A cleaning robot (100) includes a primary robot (1) having a first controller (10) configured to control a plurality of first sensors (11), a first communication module (12), a first moving apparatus (13), and a first cleaning assembly (14); and at least one secondary robot (2) having a second controller (20) configured to control a plurality of second sensors (21), a second communication module (22), a second moving apparatus (23), and a second cleaning assembly (24). A method of operating the cleaning robot (100) includes sensing a target zone, determining whether the primary robot (1) is larger than the target zone, and if it is, releasing the secondary robot (2) from a docking position in the primary robot (1) to perform a cleaning task in the target zone.