Mobile robot

• US 20030126701A1
• Filed: 10/15/2002
• Published: 07/10/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Turbjorn Aasen
• Original Assignee: Turbjorn Aasen
• Inventors: Aasen, Turbjorn
• Granted Patent: US 6,938,298 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 15/98
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/24 Floor-sweeping machines, motor-driven
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4011 Regulation of the cleaning machine by electric means; Control systems and remote control systems therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4066 Propulsion of the whole machine
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2201/04 Automatic control of the travelling movement; Automatic obstacle detection
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 5/00 Structural features of suction cleaners
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 57/00 Vehicles characterised by having other propulsion or other ground- engaging means than wheels or endless track, alone or in addition to wheels or endless track sledges B62B; motor sledges B62M

Abstract

A mobile robot is described for random movement across a surface where a drive unit is arranged inside a top-hat. Cleaning equipment such as electrostatic dusters or equipment for vacuuming can be fixed to the top-hat so that the mobile robot functions as a cleaning robot.

Claims

1. Mobile robot (10) for random movement across a surface (16) characterised in that it comprises a drive unit (12) and a top-hat (14), in which the drive unit (12) is in contact with the surface (16), and that the drive unit (12) is arranged inside and free in relation to the top-hat (14), and in which the top-hat (14), which at least partially surrounds the drive unit (12), in the section which is turned towards the surface (16) has an extension which is greater than the drive unit (12) such that a space (15) is established between the top-hat (14) and the drive unit (12) so that the drive unit (12) freely pushes against and randomly moves the top-hat (14) across the surface (16).

2. Mobile robot (10) in accordance with claim 1, characterised in that the top-hat (14) is shaped as a half-ball formed body.

3. Mobile robot (10) in accordance with claim 2, characterised in that the top-hat (14) is shaped as a framework.

4. Mobile robot (10) in accordance with one of the claims 1-3, characterised in that the drive unit (12) is in the shape of a ball (12) with an internal driving gear.

5. Mobile robot (10) in accordance with one of the claims 1-4, characterised in that it has no intelligent logic, but where the movement pattern is solely based on an infinite number of random searches.

6. Mobile robot (10) in accordance with one of the claims 1-5, characterised in that to the top-hat (14), or as a part of the top-hat (14), is arranged means for cleaning of the surface (16).

7. Mobile robot (10) in accordance with claim 6, characterised in that the mentioned means comprises one or more dusters (30).

8. Mobile robot (10) in accordance with claim 6, characterised in that the dusters (30) are of the type electrostatic dusters.

9. Mobile robot (10) in accordance with one of the claims 1-8, characterised in that the cleaning cloths (30) are placed over the top-hat (14), and that they stretch over this such that a section of the cleaning cloths (30) is in contact with the surface (16) which is to be cleaned.

10. Mobile robot (10) in accordance with one-of the claims 1-9, characterised in that an opening adapted for positioning of the top-hat (14) is cut out in the cleaning cloths (30), preferably in the centre of the cloth.

11. Mobile robot (10) in accordance with one of the claims 9-10, characterised in that, with the top-hat (14) comprising a section which extends over the floor surface (16), as described in FIG. 5, the shape of the cleaning cloth (30) is adapted to this extension (28) such that the cleaning cloth (30) can be arranged on the underside of the extension (28), so that it is positioned between the top-hat (14) and the surface (16) which is to be cleaned.

12. Mobile robot (10) in accordance with claim 5, characterised in that the cleaning means comprises means for vacuum suction.

13. Mobile robot (10) in accordance with claim 12, characterised in that the top-hat (14) is shaped as a vacuum suction unit with two compartments (20) and (22) being arranged in the unit, and a fan (26) to establish an under-pressure in the compartments (20,22), so that air containing dust particles is sucked from the surroundings by way of openings (24) and into the compartments (20).