Autonomous UV Disinfection Robot with Adaptive Path Planning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Mobile devices, such as mobile robots, are inefficient in disinfecting indoor areas and often fail to reach all contaminated surfaces, leading to incomplete disinfection and potential re-contamination.
Innovation Solution
An actuated mobile device equipped with ultraviolet (UV) light sources that autonomously navigates and maps areas to apply UV light dosages efficiently, using sensors and adjustable arms to ensure thorough disinfection, and can operate in conjunction with other devices to expedite the process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If mobile devices are used for disinfection, then automation is improved, but disinfection completeness deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses sensors to detect surfaces and objects in real-time, continuously monitors disinfection progress, and automatically adjusts the mobile device's path and UV light output accordingly. This closed-loop feedback ensures complete coverage while maintaining automation, directly resolving the contradiction between automation and disinfection completeness.
Solution Approach 2:
The mobile device dynamically adjusts its movement path, speed, and UV light dosage based on real-time environmental feedback. The system transitions from static pre-programmed paths to dynamic adaptive navigation, allowing it to optimize both automation and disinfection completeness by responding to actual surface conditions and contamination hotspots.
2Ease of operation
If mobile devices follow predetermined paths, then ease of operation is improved, but disinfection effectiveness deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary mapping of the environment using sensors before disinfection begins. This preliminary action creates a digital model of surfaces and objects, allowing the mobile device to operate autonomously without continuous human guidance while ensuring all areas are covered, thus maintaining ease of operation while improving disinfection effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
Real-time sensor feedback allows the system to detect surfaces and adjust its path dynamically during operation. This feedback mechanism maintains ease of operation by eliminating the need for complex manual programming while ensuring disinfection effectiveness through adaptive coverage of all contaminated surfaces.
3Reliability
If UV light dosage is increased, then disinfection effectiveness is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies different UV light dosages to different areas based on local contamination levels detected by sensors. High-dosage UV light is concentrated on identified contamination hotspots, while already-cleaned areas receive minimal or no additional exposure. This local differentiation improves disinfection effectiveness at contaminated sites while minimizing overall energy consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies UV light selectively only to detected surfaces and objects that require disinfection, rather than uniformly treating entire areas. This partial action approach concentrates energy on contaminated surfaces, improving disinfection effectiveness where needed while reducing total energy consumption by avoiding unnecessary irradiation of clean areas.
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 solution enables thorough and efficient disinfection of indoor areas, reducing human error and the risk of re-contamination, while minimizing the need for human presence in contaminated environments, thereby reducing costs and time.
Implementation Method 1
output ultraviolet (UV) light having a first dosage to disinfect the predetermined area
Data Source
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AI summary
Implementations of the disclosed subject matter provide a method of receiving, at an actuated mobile device, at least one dosage level for a predetermined area, where the at least one dosage level is based on a first dosage of ultraviolet (UV) light to be output from at least one light source for at least a portion of the predetermined area. The method may include moving the actuated mobile device in a path within the predetermined area and outputting the UV light from the at least one light source onto one or more first surfaces based on the received at least one dosage level. The method may include moving the actuated mobile device within the path, and outputting the UV light onto one or more second surfaces based on the received at least one dosage level.