Mobile Robot UV-C Self-Disinfection for Contamination Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing mobile devices used for disinfecting indoor areas are inefficient and may fail to disinfect all contaminated surfaces, while also potentially spreading contaminants due to their own contaminated surfaces.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a mobile robot that moves in a predetermined path within a designated area using a drive system and outputs ultraviolet (UV) light from a light source onto its wheels and other surfaces, ensuring thorough disinfection and self-cleaning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If mobile robots are used to disinfect indoor areas, then the ability to disinfect surfaces is improved, but the robots themselves become contaminated and spread pathogens to other areas
Solution Approach 1:
The mobile robot performs self-disinfection by applying UV-C light to its own wheels and surfaces. The system includes UV-C light sources positioned to irradiate the wheels and body of the robot, allowing it to autonomously eliminate pathogens from its own surfaces without human intervention, thus preventing contamination spread while maintaining continuous disinfection capability
Solution Approach 2:
UV-C light serves as an intermediary substance that transfers disinfection function from the robot's light sources to both the environment and the robot's own surfaces. The light acts as a mediator that enables the robot to disinfect external areas while simultaneously self-cleaning, resolving the contradiction between disinfection capability and contamination risk
2Area of stationary object
If mobile robots disinfect environments, then area coverage is improved, but efficiency and completeness of disinfection are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The mobile robot performs multiple functions simultaneously: it disinfects the environment through UV-C light sources directed at surfaces and air, while also performing self-disinfection of its wheels and body. This multi-functionality allows the robot to maintain high efficiency by eliminating the need for separate self-cleaning operations, thereby improving overall productivity while expanding effective coverage area
Solution Approach 2:
The robot maintains continuous disinfection action by integrating self-disinfection into its operational cycle. UV-C light sources continuously irradiate the robot's surfaces and the environment simultaneously, ensuring uninterrupted disinfection coverage without reducing efficiency or requiring停顿 for self-cleaning
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
The mobile robot effectively disinfects both the environment and its own surfaces, preventing the spread of contaminants and ensuring efficient disinfection with reduced human error.
Implementation Method 1
outputting ultraviolet (UV) light from a first light source onto a portion of at least one of a plurality of wheels of the drive system
Data Source
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AI summary
Implementations of the disclosed subject matter provide a method that includes moving a mobile robot in a path within a predetermined area using a drive system of the mobile robot, and outputting ultraviolet (UV) light from a first light source onto a portion of at least one of a plurality of wheels of the drive system based on a first dosage level.