Intelligent Solar Powered Pool Skimming Robot

• US 20170022728A1
• Filed: 05/25/2016
• Published: 01/26/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/25/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Skimdevil Pure, LLC
• Original Assignee: Skimdevil Pure, LLC
• Inventors: Simik, Milan, Kremecek, Miroslav
• Granted Patent: US 11,112,799 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 35/32 for collecting pollution from open water
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/001 Processes for the treatment of water whereby the filtration technique is of importance C02F1/44 takes precedence; construction of filters in general B01D24/00 - B01D41/00
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/008 Control or steering systems not provided for elsewhere in subclass C02F
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2103/42 from bathing facilities, e.g. swimming pools
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/008 Mobile apparatus and plants, e.g. mounted on a vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/009 Apparatus with independent power supply, e.g. solar cells, windpower or fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2209/001 Upstream control, i.e. monitoring for predictive control
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2209/005 Processes using a programmable logic controller [PLC]
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2209/02 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2209/055 Hardness
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2209/06 pH
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2209/07 Alkalinity
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2209/10 Solids, e.g. total solids [TS], total suspended solids [TSS] or volatile solids [VS]
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2209/11 Turbidity
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2303/24 Separation of coarse particles, e.g. by using sieves or screens
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 4/1263 Floating skimmers
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0206 specially adapted to water vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/43 Control of position or course in two dimensions
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 20/212 Solar-powered wastewater sewage treatment, e.g. spray evaporation

Abstract

Systems and methods can support an autonomous pool skimming system. The pool skimming system may have a body with two or more hulls. Two or more paddlewheels may be coupled to the body. An independent motor may drive each paddlewheel. The motors may be independently controllable to support steering. The pool skimming system may have one or more processing units, two or more distance sensors, one or more solar cells, and a power supply operable to power the processing units and the motors from energy supplied by the solar cells. One or more processing modules may configure the processing units to plan and execute a traversal path across the surface of a body of water, such as a swimming pool, to collect debris into a removable basket. A portion of the traversal path may be established according to signals from distance sensors.

Claims

1. An autonomous water skimming system, comprising:

a body comprising two or more hulls;

one or more processing units;

two or more paddlewheels coupled to the body, each paddlewheel driven by an independent motor, wherein the motors are independently controllable by the one or more processing units to support steering;

two or more distance sensors;

one or more solar cells;

a power supply operable to power the one or more processing units and the motors from energy supplied by the one or more solar cells; and

one or more processing modules, wherein the one or more processing units are configured by the one or more processing modules to plan and execute a traversal path across the surface of a body of water in order to collect debris into a removable basket and a portion of the traversal path is established according to signals associated with the two or more distance sensors.

2. The autonomous water skimming system of claim 1, further comprising a backwash flap.

3. The autonomous water skimming system of claim 1, further comprising one or more rechargeable battery cells.

4. The autonomous water skimming system of claim 1, further comprising a user interface.

5. The autonomous water skimming system of claim 1, further comprising a wireless communications interface.

6. The autonomous water skimming system of claim 1, wherein the one or more processing units are further configured by the one or more processing modules to establish a model of the circumference geometry of the body of water.

7. The autonomous water skimming system of claim 1, wherein the paddlewheels comprise a side hub geometry comprising a central void.

8. The autonomous water skimming system of claim 1, wherein the signals associated with the two or more distance sensors are processed to establish an approach angle with respect to an environmental obstacle.

9. The autonomous water skimming system of claim 1, wherein the one or more processing units comprise a semiconductor microcontroller.

10. The autonomous water skimming system of claim 1, further comprising one or more navigation sensors.

11. An autonomous water skimming process, comprising:

independently controlling the speed of two or more propulsion motors to support steering;

coupling two or more paddlewheels each to a respective one of the propulsion motors;

skimming along the surface of a body of water;

collecting debris from the surface;

navigating along the circumference of the body water using distance sensors;

modeling the circumference of the body of water to establish a geometry of the body of water; and

navigating a series of transversals across the established geometry.

12. The autonomous water skimming process of claim 11, further comprising preventing backflow of the collected debris.

13. The autonomous water skimming process of claim 11, wherein collecting debris comprises providing a debris collection basket.

14. The autonomous water skimming process of claim 11, wherein navigating the series of transversals comprises controlling a transversal angle according to signals from two or more distance sensors.

15. The autonomous water skimming process of claim 11, further comprising providing a communications interface.

16. The autonomous water skimming process of claim 11, further comprising providing a user interface.

17. The autonomous water skimming process of claim 11, wherein the paddlewheels comprise a side hub geometry comprising a central void.

18. The autonomous water skimming process of claim 11, further comprising providing a navigation sensor.

19. The autonomous water skimming process of claim 11, wherein the distance sensors comprise an infrared transmitter and an infrared detector.

20. The autonomous water skimming process of claim 11, further comprising providing one of more solar cells operable to power the two or more propulsion motors.