Underwater Cleaning Robot Water-Jet Escape for Step Climbing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Underwater robots face challenges in climbing onto steps or obstacles in swimming pools due to insufficient friction in underwater environments, affecting their cleaning efficiency.
Innovation Solution
The underwater robot is equipped with a dirt suction port, a first water outlet, a second water outlet, a water-pumping mechanism, and an escape mechanism, allowing it to switch between states to control water flow for generating downward or upward forces, enhancing its ability to traverse obstacles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If friction generated by traveling mechanism is relied upon to enable the robot to climb onto steps or obstacles, then the robot can perform cleaning operations, but the success rate of climbing is affected due to small friction in underwater environment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses water jet ejection from the second water outlet to generate reactive thrust force that lifts the front end of the robot body, compensating for insufficient friction force in underwater environment. This hydraulic approach enables reliable climbing onto steps and obstacles where friction alone would fail.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operational parameters by switching between water-pumping mechanism (for normal cleaning) and escape mechanism (for climbing). The escape mechanism ejects water at controlled flow rates and directions to generate sufficient lift force, dynamically adjusting the force parameters needed for different operational states.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the robot relies on friction to climb onto side walls, then the structure remains simple, but the cleaning range is affected due to limited climbing capability
Solution Approach 1:
The second water outlet serves multiple functions: it acts as a normal water discharge path during cleaning operations and transforms into a thrust generation device when the escape mechanism is activated for climbing. This multi-functionality expands cleaning range without proportionally increasing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically switches between water-pumping and escape mechanisms based on operational needs. The water outlet configuration and flow direction are dynamically adjusted to provide either cleaning function or propulsion function, enabling the robot to adapt to different terrain requirements.
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
The robot can effectively navigate complex swimming pool environments by adjusting its posture to climb onto walls and traverse obstacles, ensuring comprehensive cleaning coverage.
Implementation Method 1
water stream is controlled to flow into the underwater robot from the dirt suction port and to discharge out of the underwater robot via the first water outlet, the water-pumping mechanism generates a downward pressure on the robot main body
Implementation Method 2
the escape mechanism starts is switched on, so as to lift the front end of the robot main body to a preset angle by the water stream discharged via the second water outlet
Data Source
AI summary
An underwater robot and a control method therefor. The underwater robot includes a robot main body, wherein a dirt suction port is provided at bottom of the robot main body, a first water outlet is provided on top of the robot main body in communication with the dirt suction port, a second water outlet is further provided at bottom of the robot main body in communication with the first water outlet, and the second water outlet is located on a side of the dirt suction port close to a front end; and a water-pumping mechanism and an escape mechanism provided in the robot main body. By means of the underwater robot and the control method therefor, the obstacle crossing capability of the underwater robot is improved.