Autonomous Snow Throwing Control to Protect Road Surfaces
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current snow removal methods, including artificial sweeping, snow melting, and mechanical snow blower devices, are labor-intensive, energy-consuming, costly, and inefficient, with mechanical devices causing damage to road surfaces and having poor snow removal effects.
Innovation Solution
An automatic moving snow removal device equipped with a working module, moving module, energy module, detection module, and control module that autonomously navigates and operates to collect and throw snow, adjusting its path and energy usage based on environmental and internal parameters, reducing labor and energy consumption while improving snow removal efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If mechanical snow removal devices are used, then snow removal efficiency is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The snow removal device is divided into functional modules: a working module with snow collecting and throwing devices, a moving module with drive wheels and direction control, and a control module. This segmentation allows each module to perform its specific function independently, simplifying the overall system while maintaining snow removal efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The control module integrates multiple functions including path planning, obstacle detection, and coordination of moving and working modules. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate control systems, thereby simplifying device complexity while maintaining productivity.
2Productivity
If mechanical snow removal devices are used, then snow removal efficiency is improved, but cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the device into standardized modules (working module, moving module, control module), each can be manufactured independently using common components, reducing overall manufacturing cost while maintaining snow removal efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The device uses a chargeable battery as the energy source, which is a relatively low-cost, replaceable component compared to complex mechanical transmission systems. This substitution reduces manufacturing cost while maintaining adequate productivity for snow removal tasks.
3Ease of operation
If automatic moving capability is added, then labor intensity is reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control module enables the device to autonomously navigate, detect obstacles, and coordinate its own moving and working modules without human intervention. This self-service capability reduces labor intensity to minimal supervision while the integrated control architecture prevents excessive complexity increase.
Solution Approach 2:
The obstacle detection device provides real-time feedback to the control module, which automatically adjusts the moving module's path and the working module's operations. This feedback loop enables automatic operation with simple control logic, reducing labor intensity without significantly increasing device complexity.
4Productivity
If snow throwing speed is increased, then snow removal efficiency is improved, but road surface damage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The snow throwing device extracts snow from the collection area and throws it to the side of the road, separating the snow removal action from the road surface. This extraction prevents direct impact damage to the road while maintaining efficient snow removal throughput.
Solution Approach 2:
The snow throwing mechanism is designed to throw snow laterally to the side of the road rather than forward or backward, concentrating the throwing action in a specific direction away from the road surface. This local quality control ensures efficient snow removal without causing road damage.
Data Source
AI summary
An automatic moving snow removal device including a moving module, driving a snow blower to move; a working module, including a working motor and a snow throwing mechanism driven by the working motor, the snow throwing mechanism is driven by the working motor to collect accumulated snow and inclusions on the ground and throw out of the snow throwing mechanism; and a control module, configured to control a rotary speed of the working motor to cause a speed when the inclusions depart from the snow throwing mechanism is not higher than 41 m/s.