Systems and methods for efficient automatic vehicle washing

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10173647-B2
Application number	US-201615079619-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 24, 2016
Priority date	Mar 24, 2016
Publication date	Jan 8, 2019
Grant date	Jan 8, 2019

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for automatically cleaning the exterior surfaces of a vehicle. The systems can include a motorized robot, cleaning element, and camera all communicatively linked to a processor. The processor can receive CAD information regarding the shape and size of the exterior surfaces of the vehicle to be cleaned along with information regarding the position of the motorized robot on the vehicle. The processor can then determine an efficient path for the motorized robot to travel across the vehicle surfaces. Along the course of its travel, the motorized robot can employ the cleaning element to remove dirt or other debris from the vehicle surface.

First claim

We claim:

1. A system for cleaning an exterior of a vehicle comprising:
a motorized robot configured to move across the exterior surfaces of the vehicle;
a cleaning element attached to the motorized robot;
a controller configured to receive at least one CAD drawing of exterior surfaces of the vehicle and data regarding a position of the motorized robot and determine, based on the received data, where the motorized robot should move on the vehicle exterior surfaces and
a tether connecting the controller and the motorized robot and enabling communications between them.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the motorized robot comprises a material that enables the motorized robot to temporarily adhere to the exterior surfaces of the vehicle.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the material is a suction cup or a magnet.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the cleaning element is a rotary brush.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the cleaning element is a squeegee.

6. A system comprising:
a motorized robot configured to move across exterior surfaces of a vehicle;
a vacuum integrated into the motorized robot;
a cleaning element attached to the motorized robot; and
a controller configured to receive at least one CAD drawing of the exterior surfaces of the vehicle and data regarding a position of the motorized robot and determine, based on the received data, where the motorized robot should move on the vehicle exterior surfaces.

7. The system of claim 1 further comprising a cleaning fluid outlet integrated into the motorized robot.

8. The system of claim 1 further comprising a camera attached to the motorized robot and configured to view the exterior surfaces of the vehicle.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein the camera is a light-field or stereoscopic camera.

10. The system of claim 8 wherein the camera is further configured to detect a location of damage or foreign objects present on the exterior surfaces of the vehicle and notify the controller of those locations.

11. The system of claim 6 further comprising a tether connecting the controller and the motorized robot and enabling communications between them.

12. The system of claim 1 wherein the tether is further configured to conduct cleaning fluid from a source to the motorized robot.

13. A system for cleaning an exterior of a vehicle comprising:
a robotic arm integrated into a base unit attached to the vehicle;
a vacuum integrated into the robotic arm;
a cleaning element attached to the robotic arm; and
a controller configured to receive at least one CAD drawing of the exterior surfaces of the vehicle and data regarding the position of the robotic arm and determine, based on the received data, where the robotic arm should move to enable the cleaning element to clean the exterior surfaces of the vehicle.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein the cleaning element is a rotary brush.

15. The system of claim 13 wherein the cleaning element is a squeegee.

16. The system of claim 13 further comprising a cleaning fluid outlet integrated into the robotic arm.

17. The system of claim 13 wherein the base unit comprises a cleaning fluid reservoir for supplying cleaning fluid to the robotic arm.

18. The system of claim 13 further comprising a camera attached to the robotic arm and configured to view the exterior surfaces of the vehicle.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein the camera is further configured to detect a location of damage or foreign objects present on the exterior surfaces of the vehicle and notify the controller of those locations.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Elie Larry Dean
• Novak Robert F

Classifications

• B08B5/04

  Cleaning by suction, with or without auxiliary action · CPC title

• B08B3/024

  Cleaning by means of spray elements moving over the surface to be cleaned · CPC title

• A47L9/009

  Carrying-vehicles; Arrangements of trollies or wheels; Means for avoiding mechanical obstacles · CPC title

• G05D1/00

  Control of position, course, altitude or attitude of land, water, air or space vehicles, e.g. using automatic pilots (drive control systems specially adapted for autonomous road vehicles B60W60/00) · CPC title

• B60S3/04 Primary

  for exteriors of land vehicles {(B60S3/002, B60S3/004 take precedence; specially adapted for railway vehicles B60S3/006)} · CPC title