UAV, method and system for cleaning a wall body

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Solution Overview

Problem

Traditional methods for cleaning high-rise building walls are hazardous for workers due to the need for height operations, and existing wall cleaning robots face challenges in attachment and movement on various wall types.

Innovation Solution

A UAV-based method for cleaning walls that involves obtaining a cleaning path, flying to the region, recognizing the wall surface, and using a cleaning device to clean the surface without attachment, allowing for flexible movement and automation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If workers use safety rope for height operations to clean outer walls, then cleaning work can be performed, but the risk of danger increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecleaning operation capabilityVSAvoidworker safety

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical rope-based manual operation system with an automated UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) system equipped with cleaning devices. The UAV autonomously navigates to the building wall, positions itself, and performs cleaning operations using integrated spray nozzles and wiping mechanisms, eliminating human exposure to height risks entirely.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The UAV system performs self-navigation, self-positioning, and self-execution of cleaning tasks. The system autonomously identifies the cleaning area, flies to the target location, and executes the cleaning operation without requiring human operators to be physically present on the building facade, making the system self-sufficient and safety-independent.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Adaptability or versatility

If wall cleaning robots use vacuum adhesion for attachment, then cleaning can be performed on glass walls, but release and movement become difficult and it doesn't work on ordinary wall bodies

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveattachment capability on glass wallsVSAvoidmovement flexibility and release ease

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of having the cleaning device attach to the wall surface (as in traditional wall-climbing robots), the patent inverts the approach by having the UAV hover in the air near the wall and extend cleaning components toward the surface. This eliminates the attachment problem entirely while maintaining cleaning effectiveness on all wall types.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transitions from a two-dimensional wall-surface-bound operation (traditional robots that must cling to the wall) to a three-dimensional aerial operation. The UAV operates in the air space adjacent to the wall, extending cleaning tools toward the surface as needed, providing freedom of movement and easy release while maintaining adaptability to all wall types.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentUS11208209B2UAV, method and system for cleaning a wall body

Publication Date: 2021.12.28 SZ DJI TECH CO LTD

AI summary

A cleaning method includes controlling an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to fly to a region of a wall body according to a path to be cleaned, and, in response to detecting a cleaning prohibition identifier associated with the region, recognizing the region as a cleaning prohibition region and controlling the UAV to fly over the cleaning prohibition region without cleaning the cleaning prohibition region.