Tilted Pad Assembly for Friction-Driven Robot Cleaner Movement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional robot cleaners face challenges in efficiently moving and cleaning surfaces due to uniform frictional forces between the pad and floor, which can increase the load on the driving source and limit directional movement.
Innovation Solution
The robot cleaner employs a pad assembly connected to multiple motors, with wires tilting the pad assembly relative to the x and y axes and rotating it around the z-axis, generating non-uniform frictional forces to facilitate movement in various directions while cleaning the floor surface.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a conventional robot cleaner uses uniform frictional force between pad and floor, then the structure is simple, but the load on driving source increases and directional movement is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The pad assembly is tilted at specific angles (15-45 degrees) relative to the floor surface, creating non-uniform frictional force distribution across different regions of the pad. This local variation in friction force enables directional movement control without requiring complex auxiliary mechanisms, thereby reducing the load on the driving source while maintaining structural simplicity.
2Power
If a conventional robot cleaner uses uniform frictional force, then the driving source size is large, but the cleaning device size becomes larger
Solution Approach 1:
The pad assembly is tilted at specific angles (15-45 degrees) relative to the floor surface, transforming the friction force characteristics from uniform to non-uniform. This parameter change enables the use of a smaller driving source while maintaining effective cleaning capability, as the tilted configuration optimizes the friction force distribution for both cleaning and directional movement.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the pad assembly is tilted to generate non-uniform frictional force, then directional movement is improved, but the mechanism complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The pad assembly is configured to be tiltable relative to the floor surface, creating a dynamic configuration that enables non-uniform frictional force generation. This dynamic tilt mechanism allows the robot cleaner to achieve directional movement control without requiring complex auxiliary moving means, as the tilt angle itself serves as the control parameter for directionality.
4Power
If a tilted pad assembly is used for movement, then the driving source load is reduced, but the manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The pad assembly is tilted at specific angles (15-45 degrees) relative to the floor surface, optimizing the friction force characteristics to reduce the load on the driving source. This parameter optimization enables the use of a smaller, more cost-effective motor while maintaining cleaning effectiveness, thereby reducing manufacturing costs despite the added tilt configuration.
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 allows the robot cleaner to move efficiently in different directions by optimizing frictional forces, reducing the load on the driving source and enabling effective cleaning, while also allowing for reduced manufacturing costs and a smaller size compared to traditional designs.
Implementation Method 1
the robot cleaner moves in a particular direction by a non-uniform frictional force between a bottom surface of the pad assembly and the floor surface
Data Source
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AI summary
A robot cleaner 1 includes a plurality of motors 120, 120, 122 each of which transmits a driving force, a pad assembly 2 which is connected to one of the plurality of motors 120, 121, 122 to receive a rotational force from the motor, to rotate in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction, and thus to clean a floor surface, and a wire W1 which is connected to the pad assembly 2 and another one of the plurality of motors 120, 120, 122 so that the pad assembly 2 is tilted by the driving force of the motor 122, wherein the robot cleaner 1 moves in a particular direction by a non-uniform frictional force between a bottom surface of the pad assembly 2 and the floor surface. The robot cleaner 1 uses wires W1, W2 to tilt the pad assembly 2 and, thus, it is possible to miniaturize the robot cleaner 1.