Autonomous Personal Vehicle Washing and Drying System
First Claim
1. An apparatus for treating an exterior surface of a vehicle, comprising:
- a motorized base portion;
a surface treating system mounted on said motorized base portion for treating an exterior surface of the vehicle; and
an electronic control system for autonomously guiding and propelling said base portion relative to said vehicle on a circumferential path around the vehicle.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An autonomous vehicle washing and drying apparatus (10) that is truly portable, easily stored, and capable of fully independent and automatic operation. The apparatus (10) is self-contained and requires no connection to a water or power source. One or more tanks (175) hold the necessary water, detergent and automotive chemicals used for washing the exterior surface of the vehicle (A). A power source such as a battery (250), fuel cell, or electrical energy generated by an onboard electrical generator powered by a gasoline, ethanol, or hybrid engine provides electrical power for the various electrical components that comprise the apparatus. One or more sensors (210, 212) constantly determine the distance of the apparatus (10) in relation to the vehicle (A). The one or more sensors (210, 212) provide the distance information to an electronic control system (200) for guiding the movement of the apparatus (10) on a circumferential path (P) around the vehicle. The apparatus (10) can also dry the vehicle (A) in a manner similar to the washing operation.
29 Citations
20 Claims
-
1. An apparatus for treating an exterior surface of a vehicle, comprising:
-
a motorized base portion; a surface treating system mounted on said motorized base portion for treating an exterior surface of the vehicle; and an electronic control system for autonomously guiding and propelling said base portion relative to said vehicle on a circumferential path around the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
-
-
17. A self contained, autonomous apparatus for washing and drying a vehicle, comprising;
-
a main body; a track attached to the main body; one or more tanks; at least one spray head movably mounted on the track and fluidly connected to said one or more tanks, said spray head for delivering fluid stored in said one or more tanks to an exterior surface of the vehicle; one or more sensors; a propulsion system for propelling the main body along a circumferential path around said vehicle; a pump for pressurizing said fluid; an electronic control system; and a power source for providing electrical power to said one or more sensors, said pump, said propulsion system, and said electronic control system; wherein said one or more sensors continuously determines distance information between said main body and said vehicle, said one or more sensors continuously providing said distance information to said electronic control system for further providing error correcting signals to said propulsion system to maintain said main body on said circumferential path around said vehicle, said spray head systematically delivering fluid to the exterior surface of said vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
-
Specification