Introduction:
Windows are seen everywhere and we walk past them not thinking about how they get clean. Someone has to do the cleaning of the windows, but not everyone has the guts to do it. Our project offers to do this tedious task, on a much smaller scale at this point, so that we don’t have to worry about having dirty windows. This project interested us because we thought about what kind of motion this mechanism would have to cover every inch of the glass we chose to clean. We wanted to see how we could create a 1 DOF mechanism that can reach into corners to clean the surface properly.
Problem Statement:
Currently, there is limited window-wiping technology available. It’s either windshield wipers that don't clean the entire window, or someone has the meticulous task of cleaning the window. We plan to create a robot that can clean windows in one single sweep without leaving any uncleaned residue. The path our mechanism will take must cover the entire surface of the window and even be able to reach into corners that are often forgotten. A combination of simple mechanisms will be necessary to achieve this goal. Recently, remote control Roomba-like robots have been made that clean windows. We plan to elevate this idea by making an automated robot so you can enjoy other activities while the cleaning gets done.
Solution Mechanism:
The mechanism above consists of a slider crank with a vertical slot attachment. As the slider crank rotates our slotted link will move vertically creating a figure eight. Two sponges will be attached to the slider crank giving us a greater surface area to clean.
Proposed Scope:
- Design and iterate linkage mechanisms for cleaning motion with dynamic pattern adjustability for different glass surface geometries
- Develop mechanical designs considering sponge force, joint durability and transmission efficiency.
- Rapid prototype and CAD model linkages to validate sponge motion before production.
- Construct preliminary functional prototype by leveraging manufacturing techniques such as 3D printing and laser cutting.
- Implement a mechanism to control the pressure applied on the glass surface.
- Finalize with machined components to improve performance and reliability of linkages and mounts.
Preliminary Design: