Robotic vacuum
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Solution Overview
Problem
Robotic vacuums for business use face challenges in efficiently cleaning large area surfaces due to their size and complexity, making it difficult to navigate and clean surfaces such as airport floors or warehouses effectively.
Innovation Solution
A robotic vacuum design with a main body width of 470-600 mm, storage unit dimensions that satisfy 0.5-0.7 times the main body width, and wheels that protrude beyond the bottom surface to allow for efficient navigation and dust collection on larger surfaces, along with a suspension apparatus that adjusts biasing force based on surface conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If the robotic vacuum is made larger to clean large area surfaces, then the cleaning area capacity is improved, but the ease of operation and maneuverability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The robotic vacuum employs a suspension apparatus that allows the main body to dynamically adjust its posture and height. The suspension system includes springs and dampers that enable the body to adapt to different surface conditions, improving maneuverability while maintaining a large cleaning area. The wheels protruding below the bottom surface also contribute to dynamic adjustment capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The robotic vacuum is divided into distinct functional modules: a main body housing, a storage unit for dust collection, and a suspension apparatus. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently - the main body can be large for cleaning capacity while the suspension system handles maneuverability, resolving the contradiction between size and ease of operation.
2Quantity of substance
If the robotic vacuum is made larger to increase dust storage capacity, then the storage capacity is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The storage unit is nested within the main body housing, with the dust collection container positioned inside the main structure. This nesting arrangement maximizes storage capacity while minimizing the overall footprint and structural complexity. The storage unit shares walls and structural elements with the main body, reducing the total number of components needed.
3Ease of operation
If the wheel protrudes below the bottom surface to improve navigation, then the ease of operation is improved, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The suspension apparatus provides dynamic compensation for variations in wheel protrusion depth. As the robotic vacuum encounters different surface conditions, the suspension system automatically adjusts the main body height, maintaining consistent navigation capability without requiring extremely precise manufacturing tolerances for the wheel position relative to the bottom surface.
Data Source
AI summary
A robotic vacuum (1) includes a main body (2) having a suction port (15) in a bottom surface (2B) thereof; a storage unit (6) housed in the main body and configured to store dust and debris suctioned in via the suction port (15); and at least one wheel (9) that supports the main body (2). The main body (2) has a width Wb in a first direction that is parallel to a rotational axis (AX) of the wheel (9), the storage unit (6) has a width Ws in the first direction, the main body (2) has a height Hb in a second direction that is perpendicular to the rotational axis (AX) and perpendicular to the first direction, and the storage unit (6) has a height Hs in the second direction. The width Wb is 470-600 mm, and the condition 0.5×Wb≤Ws≤0.7×Wb is satisfied.