Surface maintenance machine light projection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Surface maintenance machines operating in environments with obstacles, such as shelving or product stands, face challenges in being visually discernible, making it difficult to quickly gather information about their location and status, especially in autonomously driven modes where a direct line of sight is blocked.
Innovation Solution
Equipping surface maintenance machines with a light projection mechanism that projects light onto a ceiling surface, utilizing a light emitting element and a projection lens to create a visible light area at a distance, allowing for quick identification of the machine's location and status through varying light states, such as colors or flashing patterns, even when obstacles obstruct the direct view.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If surface maintenance machines operate in environments with obstacles like shelving or product stands, then the machine can access and service areas, but the visual discernibility of the machine is blocked making it difficult to quickly gather information about location and status
Solution Approach 1:
The patent projects visual information from the machine's location onto the ceiling surface, effectively transferring information from the horizontal plane (where obstacles block view) to the vertical plane (ceiling), allowing observers to see machine status and location from above without line-of-sight obstruction
Solution Approach 2:
The ceiling surface acts as an intermediary medium that carries visual information about the machine's location and status. Instead of directly viewing the machine, observers see its projected representation on the ceiling, which conveys essential information without requiring direct line of sight
2Extent of automation
If surface maintenance machines are autonomously driven without an operator present, then automation efficiency increases, but the ability to quickly detect and address operational issues decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The light projection mechanism provides continuous visual feedback about the autonomous machine's location and operational status to remote operators. Different light patterns indicate different machine states, enabling operators to monitor and detect issues without being physically present at the machine
Solution Approach 2:
The autonomous machine equips itself with a light projection mechanism that automatically projects status information onto the ceiling, enabling self-monitoring and self-reporting of operational state without requiring constant operator intervention or presence
3Adaptability or versatility
If direct line of sight to the surface maintenance machine is blocked by obstacles, then the machine can operate in dense environments, but the time needed to become aware of machine location and status increases
Solution Approach 1:
By projecting light onto the ceiling surface above obstacles, the system creates a vertical information channel that bypasses horizontal obstructions, allowing instant visual access to machine status without requiring line of sight to the machine itself
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
This solution enables rapid and easy information gathering about the surface maintenance machine's location and status, reducing the time needed to address any operational issues or deviations, particularly in autonomously driven modes where an operator may not be present to monitor the machine.
Implementation Method 1
a projection lens that is configured to focus light emanating from the light emitting element
Data Source
AI summary
A surface maintenance machine includes a body, a surface maintenance tool coupled to the body, processing circuitry supported at the body, and a light projection mechanism supported at the body and coupled to the processing circuitry. The light projection mechanism includes a light housing, a light emitting element within the light housing, and a projection lens that is configured to focus light emanating from the light emitting element. The light projection mechanism is configured to project light onto a ceiling surface that is above a floor surface along which the surface maintenance machine is configured to perform a surface maintenance task using the surface maintenance tool.