Robot Cleaner Lifting and Suspension Design for Multi-Floor Navigation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Robot cleaners face challenges in navigating varied floor environments, particularly when encountering carpets, due to suction issues and height differences, which affect their ability to travel stably and maintain cleaning performance.
Innovation Solution
The robot cleaner incorporates a suspension unit that absorbs impact and a lifting unit, allowing the main body to be raised or lowered, coupled with a wheel unit that adjusts height based on slip information and floor material detection, enabling stable travel and automatic charging by moving the main body to a lifted position for docking.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the cleaning nozzle is placed close to the surface to be cleaned for effective cleaning, then cleaning performance is improved, but the cleaner cannot stably travel on carpets with height differences
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a lifting unit that dynamically adjusts the height of the main body relative to the suspension unit based on detected floor conditions. When a carpet is detected, the main body is lifted to an upper position; when on a hard floor, it is lowered to a lower position. This dynamic height adjustment allows the cleaning nozzle to maintain optimal contact with hard floors while preventing the main body from becoming unstable on carpets with height differences.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the main body is lowered for automatic charging to connect the charging port, then charging capability is improved, but the suspension unit cannot maintain impact absorption function
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the height adjustment system into two independent units: a suspension unit that maintains impact absorption function and a lifting unit that enables charging capability. The lifting unit raises or lowers the main body relative to the suspension unit without affecting the suspension unit's structural integrity or impact absorption function. This segmentation allows both functions to operate independently and simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The lifting unit acts as an intermediary mechanism between the main body and the suspension unit. It provides the necessary height adjustment for charging while the suspension unit maintains its original position and impact absorption function. The lifting unit mediates between the conflicting requirements of charging access and suspension functionality.
3Productivity
If the cleaning nozzle contacts the floor for cleaning, then cleaning effectiveness is improved, but slip occurs when traveling on carpets
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the main body height based on real-time detection of floor conditions. When a carpet is detected, the main body is lifted to reduce the contact pressure of the cleaning nozzle, preventing slip. When on a hard floor, the main body is lowered to maximize cleaning effectiveness. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction between cleaning effectiveness and slip prevention.
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 configuration enhances the robot cleaner's ability to navigate different floor materials, reduces slip, and ensures stable operation by adjusting the cleaning nozzle's height, while allowing for efficient automatic charging by maintaining a stable connection with the docking device.
Implementation Method 1
a suspension unit in which the wheel unit is installed to be movable upward or downward, the suspension unit being configured to absorb impact when the wheel unit moves upward or downward
Implementation Method 2
a lifting unit in which the suspension unit is installed to be raised or lowered, the lifting unit being coupled to the main body
Implementation Method 3
the cleaning nozzle sucks foreign substances containing dust on the surface to be cleaned by the suction force generated by the suction device
Data Source
AI summary
A robot cleaner includes a main body, and a wheel unit including a wheel configured to movably support the main body. The wheel unit is installed in a suspension unit and configured to be movable upward or downward. The suspension unit is configured to absorb impact when the wheel unit moves upward or downward, and is installed in a lifting unit coupled to the main body. The suspension unit is configured to be raised or lowered relative to the lifting unit. The lifting unit includes a lifting drive motor including a rotatable shaft disposed in parallel with a direction in which the suspension unit is configured to be raised or lowered, and a transmission unit configured to transmit a rotation force of the lifting drive motor to the suspension unit.