Robotic Cleaner Layout for Wall Reach and Full Floor Coverage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current robotic floor cleaners face limitations in cleaning reach and effectiveness due to their circular design, which restricts the size and configuration of the cleaning mechanism, and inefficient navigation strategies that lead to incomplete coverage and uneven cleaning of complex environments.
Innovation Solution
A robotic cleaner design where the cleaning apparatus forms a major part of the mobile platform, extending along the front and sides to reach walls and corners, with a flexible suspension system and sensors for obstacle detection, allowing for efficient navigation and systematic cleaning patterns.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the cleaning mechanism is designed to fit entirely within the footprint of the mobile robot platform with a circular base, then the robot can navigate around obstacles and along walls more easily, but the cleaning mechanism size and reach are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning robot is divided into distinct functional modules: a circular mobile platform for navigation and a separate rectangular cleaning mechanism that can be positioned independently. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function without compromising the other.
Solution Approach 2:
The cleaning mechanism extends beyond the circular footprint of the mobile platform in the lateral dimension, creating a rectangular cleaning area that protrudes from the circular base. This dimensional extension allows the cleaning mechanism to reach walls and corners more effectively while the circular base maintains its superior navigational characteristics.
2Productivity
If the cleaning mechanism extends beyond the robot's footprint to reach walls and corners, then cleaning reach and effectiveness improve, but the robot's ability to navigate tight spaces is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system separates the cleaning function (rectangular mechanism) from the mobility function (circular platform), allowing the cleaning mechanism to extend for better reach while the compact circular base navigates tight spaces independently.
Solution Approach 2:
The circular mobile platform acts as an intermediary carrier that transports the extended rectangular cleaning mechanism to various locations. The platform's compact circular design enables navigation in tight spaces while carrying the larger cleaning mechanism that extends beyond its footprint for effective wall and corner cleaning.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a random navigation strategy is used, then the robot can explore the environment freely, but cleaning coverage becomes incomplete and uneven
Solution Approach 1:
The robot employs sensors to detect obstacles and boundaries, providing feedback to the control system. This feedback enables the robot to adjust its navigation path systematically, ensuring complete and uniform cleaning coverage while maintaining adaptability to different environmental layouts.
Solution Approach 2:
The navigation strategy transitions from purely random to a dynamic hybrid approach that adapts based on environmental feedback. The robot dynamically adjusts its movement patterns, combining random exploration with systematic coverage algorithms to achieve both environmental adaptability and uniform cleaning precision.
Data Source
AI summary
A robotic cleaner includes a cleaning assembly for cleaning a surface and a main robot body. The main robot body houses a drive system to cause movement of the robotic cleaner and a microcontroller to control the movement of the robotic cleaner. The cleaning assembly is located in front of the drive system and a width of the cleaning assembly is greater than a width of the main robot body. A robotic cleaning system includes a main robot body and a plurality of cleaning assemblies for cleaning a surface. The main robot body houses a drive system to cause movement of the robotic cleaner and a microcontroller to control the movement of the robotic cleaner. The cleaning assembly is located in front of the drive system and each of the cleaning assemblies is detachable from the main robot body and each of the cleaning assemblies has a unique cleaning function.