Autonomous UV Disinfection Robot With Mapping and Exposure Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Mobile disinfection devices, such as mobile robots, often fail to efficiently disinfect all contaminated surfaces and require operator supervision, lacking autonomous mapping and disinfection capabilities.
Innovation Solution
A mobile robot equipped with sensors and a UV light source autonomously maps an area, determines disinfection positions, applies UV light based on dosage levels, and generates a disinfection report, allowing for efficient disinfection without continuous operator supervision.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If mobile robots are used for disinfection, then disinfection coverage can be improved, but operator supervision is still required which reduces autonomy
Solution Approach 1:
The mobile robot performs self-mapping of the environment using sensors, self-planning of disinfection paths, self-execution of UV disinfection, and self-reporting of disinfection status. The robot autonomously determines whether an area is already mapped, generates maps and exposure maps, and provides disinfection reports without requiring operator supervision or intervention throughout the disinfection process.
2Ease of operation
If traditional mobile disinfection devices are used, then operation is simple, but disinfection efficiency and completeness deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The mobile robot performs preliminary mapping of the environment using sensors before disinfection begins. The system generates a map of the area and identifies all surfaces and objects that need disinfection. This preliminary action enables the robot to efficiently plan and execute complete disinfection coverage without requiring operators to manually survey the area first.
Solution Approach 2:
The system generates exposure maps that track UV light dosage applied to different areas and surfaces. The mobile robot uses this feedback information to monitor disinfection progress, ensure complete coverage, and generate detailed disinfection reports. This feedback mechanism ensures thorough disinfection while maintaining operational simplicity.
3Device complexity
If manual disinfection operations are performed, then device complexity is low, but disinfection completeness deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The mobile robot integrates multiple functions into a single autonomous system: environmental mapping using sensors, path planning, UV light emission for disinfection, exposure tracking, and report generation. This multi-functional integration ensures complete disinfection coverage while maintaining manageable system complexity through unified autonomous control.
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 mobile robot effectively disinfects all surfaces in an area by autonomously mapping and applying UV light, ensuring thorough disinfection and providing a report on disinfection status.
Implementation Method 1
Using a light source of the mobile robot, ultraviolet (UV) light may be emitted to disinfect at least a portion of the area, including at least one of air, a surface, and/or an object
Data Source
AI summary
Implementations of the disclosed subject matter provide a method of mobile disinfection that includes positioning a mobile robot in an area to be disinfected and receiving a command to perform disinfection at the mobile robot. The processor may determine whether the area is cleared for disinfection based on one or more signals outputted from the one or more sensors of the mobile robot when it is determined that the area is already mapped. A light source of the mobile robot may emit ultraviolet (UV). The processor may generate a two dimensional (2D) map or a three dimensional (3D) map based on at least one of the surface and the object that are detected by a sensor as the mobile robot moves, and an exposure map of at least one of the air, the surface, and/or the object exposed by the emitted UV light in the area to be disinfected and dosage levels of the emitted UV light applied as the mobile robot moves.