Segmented Side Brush Design for Autonomous Robot Corner Cleaning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Autonomous cleaning robots face challenges in effectively sweeping debris, especially at corners and along obstacles, due to the geometry of their brushes, which can lead to entanglement and reduced cleaning efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A side brush with a unique arm geometry that allows it to extend beyond the robot's perimeter and rotate to sweep debris under the main brush without interfering with other components, featuring a hub with an inset portion to collect filament debris and a motor-driven design that positions bristle bundles to efficiently cover a wider area.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If the side brush uses a conventional radial arm geometry, then the brush structure is simple, but the brush cannot extend beyond the robot's perimeter to access debris at corners and obstacles
Solution Approach 1:
The arm is divided into multiple segments (first arm segment, second arm segment, third arm segment) connected in series, allowing the brush to extend beyond the robot's perimeter while maintaining structural manageability. Each segment can be independently positioned to achieve the desired extended reach without requiring a single complex long arm.
Solution Approach 2:
The arm segments are arranged in a non-planar configuration with the third arm segment extending in a direction different from the first two segments. This three-dimensional arrangement allows the brush to reach corners and obstacles effectively while keeping each individual segment relatively short and manageable in complexity.
2Productivity
If the side brush rotates to sweep under the main brush, then cleaning width and effectiveness improve, but entanglement between brush components may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The side brush is designed to rotate relative to the robot body, allowing dynamic adjustment of the brush position and orientation. This rotation enables the brush to sweep under the main brush for enhanced cleaning coverage while the hub mechanism controls the rotation to prevent entanglement with other robot components.
Solution Approach 2:
The hub structure includes an inset portion that receives and contains the arm segments when the brush is not in use or during certain rotation positions. This nested configuration prevents the arm segments from interfering with other robot components during rotation and eliminates entanglement risks.
3Ease of manufacture
If the hub is positioned at the outer perimeter of the brush, then the brush structure is simple, but filament debris cannot be collected effectively
Solution Approach 1:
The hub includes a specifically designed inset portion located at its outer perimeter that creates a localized collection region for filament debris. This localized structural feature targets the specific problem of filament collection without requiring a complete redesign of the entire hub structure, maintaining relative simplicity while improving debris collection efficiency.
Data Source
AI summary
An autonomous cleaning robot includes a drive configured to move the robot across a floor surface, a brush proximate a lateral side of the robot, and a motor configured to rotate the brush about an axis of rotation. The brush includes a hub configured to engage the motor of the robot and arms each extending outwardly from the hub away from the axis of rotation and each being angled relative to a plane normal to the axis of rotation of the brush. Each of the arms include a first portion extending outwardly from the hub away from the axis of rotation and a second portion extending outwardly from the first portion away from the axis of rotation. An angle between the first portion of each of the arms and the plane is larger than an angle between the second portion of the each of the arms and the plane.