Robot Cleaner Pad Tilt Assembly for Omnidirectional Friction Drive
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional robot cleaners face limitations in efficiently navigating diverse directions and enhancing cleaning efficiency due to uniform frictional forces between the pad and the floor, restricting their ability to effectively clean complex floor layouts.
Innovation Solution
The robot cleaner incorporates multiple driving units with rotating plate assemblies that can be slanted relative to the floor, generating nonuniform frictional forces by rotating about different axes, allowing it to travel in various directions and adjust frictional force distribution for enhanced cleaning efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a conventional robot cleaner travels using a moving unit with uniform frictional force, then the structure is simple, but the ability to move in diverse directions and clean complex layouts is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The pad assembly is designed to dynamically adjust its orientation relative to the floor through rotation about the Y-axis and tilting through rotation about the X-axis. This dynamic positioning allows the frictional force direction to be changed, enabling the robot cleaner to move in diverse directions including forward, backward, left, right, and diagonal movements, thereby improving adaptability to complex floor layouts
Solution Approach 2:
The driving system is segmented into multiple independent motors: a first motor for rotating the pad assembly about the Y-axis, a second motor for tilting the pad assembly about the X-axis, and a third motor for rotating the pad assembly about its own axis. This segmentation allows independent control of each motion degree, enabling versatile directional control while maintaining manageable structural complexity
2Productivity
If uniform frictional force is applied between the pad and floor, then the device structure is simple, but cleaning efficiency is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
By tilting the pad assembly through rotation about the X-axis, the contact pressure between the pad and floor is distributed non-uniformly. This creates local areas of higher frictional force that can be strategically positioned to enhance cleaning effectiveness in specific regions, thereby improving overall cleaning efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The pad assembly can dynamically adjust its tilt angle and orientation during operation, allowing the frictional force distribution to be optimized for different cleaning scenarios. This dynamic adjustment enables the system to adapt frictional force distribution to match the cleaning requirements of different floor areas
3Productivity
If the pad assembly is slanted to generate nonuniform frictional force, then cleaning efficiency is enhanced, but the risk of incomplete pad contact with the floor increases
Solution Approach 1:
The pad is designed as a flexible element that can deform to maintain contact with the floor even when the pad assembly is tilted. This flexibility allows the pad to conform to the floor surface, ensuring reliable contact and consistent frictional force generation while the assembly maintains its slanted orientation for enhanced cleaning efficiency
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
This design enables the robot cleaner to move freely in all directions, increase frictional force between the pad and the floor, and improve cleaning efficiency by varying the contact area and frictional force distribution, allowing for effective cleaning of complex layouts without being restricted by obstacles.
Implementation Method 1
nonuniform frictional force may be generated between a bottom surface of the pad and the floor
Data Source
AI summary
A robot cleaner capable of moving in diverse directions and enhancing cleaning efficiency by increasing frictional force between a pad and a floor includes two or more driving units. Each of the driving units includes plural motors, a first subframe connected to at least any one of the motors and configured to rotate by receiving rotational force from the motor, a rotating plate assembly mounted to the first subframe and configured to be slanted with respect to a floor by rotation of the first subframe and to rotate clockwise or counterclockwise by receiving rotational force from another motor, and a pad provided at the rotating plate assembly and configured to contact the floor. When the rotating plate assembly is slanted with respect to the floor, nonuniform frictional force is generated between the pad and the floor, through which the robot cleaner travels.