Ultrasonic Underwater Cleaning Robot Without Trailing Cable

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing underwater cleaning robots face issues with entanglement and blockage due to trailing cables, limiting their freedom of movement and efficiency in cleaning pool surfaces.

Innovation Solution

The system employs a battery-powered underwater cleaning robot equipped with wireless communication via ultrasonic signals, eliminating the need for a trailing cable and allowing for maximum freedom of movement and comprehensive cleaning.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a trailing cable is used to supply power and transmit commands to the underwater cleaning robot, then power supply and communication are enabled, but the robot becomes prone to entanglement and blockage, limiting its freedom of movement

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower supply reliabilityVSAvoidfreedom of movement
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the power supply function from the trailing cable by equipping the robot with an independent battery system. The battery is mounted on the robot's chassis and provides autonomous power supply, completely eliminating the physical cable connection. This allows the robot to move freely without cable entanglement while maintaining reliable power supply throughout the cleaning cycle.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical cable connection with wireless communication technology. Commands and data are transmitted between the control device and the robot using radio frequency or other wireless protocols, eliminating the need for a physical trailing cable. This substitution enables complete freedom of movement while maintaining reliable communication and control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Use of energy by moving object

If a trailing cable is used for power supply, then continuous power can be provided, but the cable causes tangling and blockage issues that hinder cleaning efficiency

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontinuous power supplyVSAvoidcleaning efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The robot is equipped with a battery that is charged in advance before deployment. This preliminary energy storage allows the robot to operate autonomously for the entire cleaning cycle without requiring a trailing cable for continuous power supply. The battery capacity is calculated to ensure sufficient energy for complete pool cleaning, eliminating productivity losses from cable management issues.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Ease of operation

If wireless communication is used instead of cable connection, then freedom of movement is improved, but communication reliability may be affected by water interference

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefreedom of movementVSAvoidcommunication reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses an antenna as an intermediary device for wireless communication. The antenna is strategically positioned on the robot's exterior to optimize signal transmission and reception through water. The control device and robot communicate via wireless signals that penetrate water effectively, maintaining reliable communication while enabling complete freedom of movement. The system includes signal strength monitoring and automatic reconnection capabilities to ensure communication reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 prevents cable-related issues such as tangling and blockage, enabling automatic and thorough cleaning of pools, even in complex shapes with fixtures and islands, while ensuring reliable communication and navigation.

Implementation Method 1

an ultrasonic transducer (27) arranged outside the housing (20a) of the underwater cleaning robot (20) and configured to transmit and receive ultrasonic signals

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectUltrasonic transmission: Ultrasound

Implementation Method 2

A battery (21) configured to deliver electrical energy is provided. The battery (21) is connected to one or more charging ports

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectBattery energy storage: Battery (electricity)

Data Source

PatentEP4190995B1Underwater cleaning robot
Publication Date: 2025.05.28 MARINER 3S
  • EP4190995B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4190995B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4190995B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An underwater cleaning robot (20) includes a propulsion device (23) for moving the underwater cleaning robot (20) underwater, a cleaning device (24) for cleaning an underwater object (2, 3), a control device (25) for controlling the propulsion device (23) and/or the cleaning device (24), and a communication device (26, 27) for receiving and/or sending signals from outside the underwater cleaning robot (20) and vice versa. The communication device includes a first ultrasonic transducer (27) for receiving ultrasonic signals transmitted underwater and is configured to forward corresponding electrical signals to the control device (25) based on the received ultrasonic signals (39).