Multifunctional Robot for washing windows of skyscrapers
Hello dear friends!
I bring to your attention the idea of creating a multifunctional robot for washing windows of skyscrapers. Imagine a scorpion robot that will move on the paws-suction cups on the glasses, and the tail will act as a hand, at the end of which a glass cleaning system will be fixed. To get started (to start the robot) you need to wash one stained glass on the first floor of a skyscraper. Then, the robot is installed on this clean surface and begins its upward movement.
The tail of the scorpion robot hangs over its front part (head) and the working surface of the tail clears its way up (the working surface is where the poisonous sting of a living scorpion is located). After washing the window of the second floor, the robot moves to the clean, dry surface prepared by it, which ensures reliable adhesion of the suction cups to the glass. Thus, the robot always keeps on the glass deliberately cleared of dirt. This is about the introduction and a brief description of the workflow. Next, I will introduce you to the relevance of the topic and the detailed principle of the robot.
Owners of modern skyscrapers spend tremendous money on maintaining buildings in a clean state. And if inside robots are already quite widely used for cleaning and cleaning floors, (I mean large washing machines with a driver who wash and polish tiles and other coatings), then outside robots are not yet used. Although, the cost of washers that hang from the roof on slings or a platform is quite impressive. So why not entrust this dangerous job not to a person, but to a robot? Such a robot will be able to wash the building throughout its entire service life and always maintain it in an impeccable form, because the costs are many times different from the ways that people currently use. In addition, the robot can wash more than one building, but 2, 3, or even 10, serving these skyscrapers in turn. The robot is universal and is suitable for absolutely any building. To service the robot, one trained person is enough.
After analyzing a lot of material, talking with interested people of different professions and impartially and soberly weighing all the pros and cons, I came to the conclusion that an automated window cleaning system for skyscrapers is the most relevant topic of the future. Large business centers, modern cities and megacities, all of them suffer from dirt, smog and soot. From here it follows that the market for the use of this robot is wide and has no boundaries, including state ones. In each country there are several cities where this technique will find its application.
At the moment, there are already robots for cleaning windows on the market. There are both industrial and home use, but all of these not numerous models are raw enough, primitive and not very effective. The idea that I propose is a fundamentally different approach. It lies in the absolute autonomy of work, reliability, in the impeccable quality of window cleaning and a number of other advantages.
So, specifically about the robot.
1) The method of attaching the robot to a skyscraper.
As I said, the robot looks like a scorpion. To climb steep walls there is no more adapted insect than a spider. Six limbs allow you to easily move on any surface, including vertical ones. Accordingly, to move the robot along the glass surface, we take the structure of the arachnid insect as a basis, add a working hand to it, with which the robot will clean the glass and get something closely resembling a scorpion. As for specifically the suction cups, thanks to which the robot can be securely fixed on any floor of a skyscraper. Many saw the suction cups used by the installers of plastic windows in their work, and if someone was interested in them, then he knows that this device is most securely fixed to the glass. I suggest using such Velcro on each of the six limbs of the robot. At the end of each foot of the scorpion robot will be placed one mechanized suction cup. It is mechanized due to the fact that several sensors are triggered on contact with a smooth surface on a suction cup. Information from the sensors goes to the central computer. Based on the information from these sensors, the computer makes a decision: the suction cup lies correctly on the surface of the glass, you can enable the sticking mode on this foot. At the same second, it is sucked to the glass and this foot is firmly fixed to the surface. This all happens in a split second. Thus, the alternately suction paws will allow the robot to move in any direction. Detachment of the suction cups occurs according to a similar principle: as soon as the robot needs to tear the paw off the surface, a signal comes in and the suction cup detaches. In addition to this, there is a safety system that, using negative pressure sensors, collects information about the reliability of fastening of each foot. Due to the fact that the robot always moves only on a cleaned surface, the risk of poor adhesion is minimized. The algorithm for moving and sticking, I think, has become clear to everyone. Move on…
2) The working arm or tail of a scorpion.
The tail of a scorpion robot will not consist of a large number of elements, like a real insect - this design, in my opinion, is too troublesome and unreliable. I suggest using only 3 articulated mechanisms: at the base of the tail, a little further and at the very tip of the tail - I am convinced that this will be enough. The tail is driven by electricity. The tail at the end has a telescopic principle and extends forward some distance. This is necessary so that the robot, being on the same window, can easily reach the window above the floor and wash the area necessary for itself and follow it higher.
3) Washing pad.
On the tail of the scorpion is a window cleaning system. I will not go into the details of her work, I will only say that using high-performance foam, she easily launders windows and also leaves them dry. This washing platform is a consumable item and can be easily changed as needed. This nozzle collects dirty water from the glass into a container. Leaking dirty smudges on frames and other windows is excluded.
Positioning the robot in a skyscraper.
Before starting operation at a specific facility, data on the external dimensions of the building, the dimensions of windows, ledges, the number of floors are entered into the computer — in general, all external parameters of the building. Thus, the robot always understands which floor and window is located, which windows are washed and how much is left.
The robot is made of carbon fiber and is powered by electricity. The robot receives the required amount of energy through a cable hanging from the top floor. To prevent the wire from sagging, there is a cable feed system. Based on the location of the robot, the system monitors cable slack.
On the abdomen of the robot are two containers. In one, there is foam (10 l), and in the other comes the dirty waste liquid (10 l). Containers are changing on the ground.
I bring to your attention the idea of creating a multifunctional robot for washing windows of skyscrapers. Imagine a scorpion robot that will move on the paws-suction cups on the glasses, and the tail will act as a hand, at the end of which a glass cleaning system will be fixed. To get started (to start the robot) you need to wash one stained glass on the first floor of a skyscraper. Then, the robot is installed on this clean surface and begins its upward movement.
The tail of the scorpion robot hangs over its front part (head) and the working surface of the tail clears its way up (the working surface is where the poisonous sting of a living scorpion is located). After washing the window of the second floor, the robot moves to the clean, dry surface prepared by it, which ensures reliable adhesion of the suction cups to the glass. Thus, the robot always keeps on the glass deliberately cleared of dirt. This is about the introduction and a brief description of the workflow. Next, I will introduce you to the relevance of the topic and the detailed principle of the robot.
Relevance of the topic
Owners of modern skyscrapers spend tremendous money on maintaining buildings in a clean state. And if inside robots are already quite widely used for cleaning and cleaning floors, (I mean large washing machines with a driver who wash and polish tiles and other coatings), then outside robots are not yet used. Although, the cost of washers that hang from the roof on slings or a platform is quite impressive. So why not entrust this dangerous job not to a person, but to a robot? Such a robot will be able to wash the building throughout its entire service life and always maintain it in an impeccable form, because the costs are many times different from the ways that people currently use. In addition, the robot can wash more than one building, but 2, 3, or even 10, serving these skyscrapers in turn. The robot is universal and is suitable for absolutely any building. To service the robot, one trained person is enough.
After analyzing a lot of material, talking with interested people of different professions and impartially and soberly weighing all the pros and cons, I came to the conclusion that an automated window cleaning system for skyscrapers is the most relevant topic of the future. Large business centers, modern cities and megacities, all of them suffer from dirt, smog and soot. From here it follows that the market for the use of this robot is wide and has no boundaries, including state ones. In each country there are several cities where this technique will find its application.
Project Strengths
At the moment, there are already robots for cleaning windows on the market. There are both industrial and home use, but all of these not numerous models are raw enough, primitive and not very effective. The idea that I propose is a fundamentally different approach. It lies in the absolute autonomy of work, reliability, in the impeccable quality of window cleaning and a number of other advantages.
So, specifically about the robot.
1) The method of attaching the robot to a skyscraper.
As I said, the robot looks like a scorpion. To climb steep walls there is no more adapted insect than a spider. Six limbs allow you to easily move on any surface, including vertical ones. Accordingly, to move the robot along the glass surface, we take the structure of the arachnid insect as a basis, add a working hand to it, with which the robot will clean the glass and get something closely resembling a scorpion. As for specifically the suction cups, thanks to which the robot can be securely fixed on any floor of a skyscraper. Many saw the suction cups used by the installers of plastic windows in their work, and if someone was interested in them, then he knows that this device is most securely fixed to the glass. I suggest using such Velcro on each of the six limbs of the robot. At the end of each foot of the scorpion robot will be placed one mechanized suction cup. It is mechanized due to the fact that several sensors are triggered on contact with a smooth surface on a suction cup. Information from the sensors goes to the central computer. Based on the information from these sensors, the computer makes a decision: the suction cup lies correctly on the surface of the glass, you can enable the sticking mode on this foot. At the same second, it is sucked to the glass and this foot is firmly fixed to the surface. This all happens in a split second. Thus, the alternately suction paws will allow the robot to move in any direction. Detachment of the suction cups occurs according to a similar principle: as soon as the robot needs to tear the paw off the surface, a signal comes in and the suction cup detaches. In addition to this, there is a safety system that, using negative pressure sensors, collects information about the reliability of fastening of each foot. Due to the fact that the robot always moves only on a cleaned surface, the risk of poor adhesion is minimized. The algorithm for moving and sticking, I think, has become clear to everyone. Move on…
2) The working arm or tail of a scorpion.
The tail of a scorpion robot will not consist of a large number of elements, like a real insect - this design, in my opinion, is too troublesome and unreliable. I suggest using only 3 articulated mechanisms: at the base of the tail, a little further and at the very tip of the tail - I am convinced that this will be enough. The tail is driven by electricity. The tail at the end has a telescopic principle and extends forward some distance. This is necessary so that the robot, being on the same window, can easily reach the window above the floor and wash the area necessary for itself and follow it higher.
3) Washing pad.
On the tail of the scorpion is a window cleaning system. I will not go into the details of her work, I will only say that using high-performance foam, she easily launders windows and also leaves them dry. This washing platform is a consumable item and can be easily changed as needed. This nozzle collects dirty water from the glass into a container. Leaking dirty smudges on frames and other windows is excluded.
Positioning the robot in a skyscraper.
Before starting operation at a specific facility, data on the external dimensions of the building, the dimensions of windows, ledges, the number of floors are entered into the computer — in general, all external parameters of the building. Thus, the robot always understands which floor and window is located, which windows are washed and how much is left.
Construction and Power
The robot is made of carbon fiber and is powered by electricity. The robot receives the required amount of energy through a cable hanging from the top floor. To prevent the wire from sagging, there is a cable feed system. Based on the location of the robot, the system monitors cable slack.
Payload
On the abdomen of the robot are two containers. In one, there is foam (10 l), and in the other comes the dirty waste liquid (10 l). Containers are changing on the ground.