Contaminated Site Sampling Robot With Autonomous Navigation and Suction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sampling robots for contaminated sites cannot arrive at sampling sites autonomously and cannot perform negative-pressure collection of samples.
Innovation Solution
A contaminated site sampling robot equipped with a walking mechanism, vision sensing system, drilling mechanism, and negative-pressure suction mechanism, allowing for autonomous navigation and sample collection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If a direct-push type soil sampling machine is used, then intelligent remote operation and accurate hole adjustment are achieved, but the robot cannot arrive at sampling site autonomously and cannot perform negative-pressure collection
Solution Approach 1:
The robot system is divided into functional modules: walking mechanism for autonomous navigation, drilling mechanism for soil sampling, and negative-pressure suction mechanism for sample collection. Each module operates semi-independently under PLC control, allowing autonomous functionality while managing system complexity through modular architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The robot body integrates multiple functions into a single platform: locomotion via walking mechanism, drilling via drilling mechanism, and sample suction via negative-pressure mechanism. This multi-functionality enables the robot to complete entire sampling operations autonomously without requiring separate equipment for each task.
2Productivity
If traditional manual sampling is used, then operation simplicity is maintained, but time consumption and labor intensity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The robot performs sampling operations autonomously without continuous human intervention. The PLC controller automatically coordinates the walking mechanism for navigation, drilling mechanism for soil extraction, and suction mechanism for sample collection, enabling the system to serve itself and complete tasks independently.
Solution Approach 2:
Manual mechanical sampling operations are replaced by an automated robotic system with PLC control. The robot substitutes human labor in navigating to sampling sites, drilling into soil, and collecting samples, dramatically improving productivity while the standardized control interface maintains ease of operation through automated sequences.
3Reliability
If autonomous navigation is added to the sampling robot, then arrival at sampling site is achieved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The negative-pressure suction mechanism is integrated with the drilling mechanism, where the suction device is positioned adjacent to the drilling tool. This merging ensures that sample collection and soil extraction occur simultaneously at the same location, guaranteeing sample integrity while using a coordinated but not overly complex dual-mechanism structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The negative-pressure suction mechanism acts as an intermediary between the drilling mechanism and the sample collection container. It receives soil samples directly from the drilling point and transports them to storage, ensuring sample integrity through controlled negative pressure while simplifying the overall structure compared to direct mechanical transfer systems.
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
Enables intelligent and autonomous sampling at contaminated sites, improving efficiency and accuracy by allowing the robot to navigate and collect samples independently, while maintaining the integrity of soil samples through negative-pressure suction.
Implementation Method 1
a vacuum cleaner is mounted inside the U-shaped box, a dust outlet of the vacuum cleaner is connected to a sample collecting box, and a feeding port of the vacuum cleaner is connected to a sample collecting pipe through a pipeline
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a contaminated site sampling robot and an intelligent sampling method thereof. The robot includes a body with a walking mechanism, vision sensing system, drilling mechanism, and negative-pressure suction mechanism. The walking mechanism features two servo motors within a mounting platform, with track wheels attached to the servo motors' output ends. The vision sensing system comprises a supporting frame at one end of the mounting platform, equipped with a vision sensing camera and radar sensor. The drilling mechanism consists of a U-shaped base on the mounting platform's top, with a mechanical arm and drilling machine mounted at one end. The negative-pressure suction mechanism includes a U-shaped box on the mounting platform's middle part, housing a vacuum cleaner whose dust outlet connects to a sample collecting box. This setup allows for optimal path identification, positioning, obstacle avoidance, and control of sampling conditions, facilitating intelligent sampling of contaminated sites.