Robotic Surface Treatment Device

Abstract

A robotic surface treatment device includes at least two wheels, at least two electric motors, wherein one electric motor is connected to one corresponding wheel via a motor shaft, at least two treatment pads, wherein at least one treatment pad is attached to a bottom surface of a corresponding wheel, a main controller positioned on top of and in connection with drive controllers positioned on top of each electric motor, a plurality of sensors integrated in the main controller, and a rechargeable battery connected to the main controller. At least one treatment fluid tank may be positioned on the robotic surface treatment device, and at least one treatment fluid tube may extend from a bottom surface of the treatment fluid tank to a bottom surface of the robotic surface treatment device. The sensors may be laser or acoustic sensors configured to create a boundary line for a treatment area.

The invention claimed is: 
     
         1 . A robotic surface treatment device, comprising:
 at least two wheels;   at least two electric motors, wherein one electric motor is connected to one corresponding wheel via a motor shaft;   at least two treatment pads, wherein at least one treatment pad is attached to a bottom surface of a corresponding wheel;   a main controller positioned on top of and in connection with drive controllers positioned on top of each electric motor;   a plurality of sensors integrated in the main controller; and   at least one rechargeable battery connected to the main controller.   
     
     
         2 . The robotic surface treatment device as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising at least one treatment fluid tank positioned on the top of the robotic surface treatment device, and at least one treatment fluid tube extending from a bottom surface of the treatment fluid tank to a bottom surface of the robotic surface treatment device. 
     
     
         3 . The robotic surface treatment device as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of sensors are laser or acoustic sensors configured to measure a distance between the robotic surface treatment device and an obstacle. 
     
     
         4 . The robotic surface treatment device as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the sensors are spaced radially about the robotic surface treatment device and are positioned with equal distances between one another. 
     
     
         5 . The robotic surface treatment device as claimed in  claim 4 , further comprising a treatment fluid tube shut off valve positioned in line between the treatment fluid tank and the treatment fluid tube, wherein the treatment fluid tube shut off valve opens upon the robotic surface treatment device activating to treat a surface. 
     
     
         6 . The robotic surface treatment device as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the rechargeable battery is a light weight lithium ion battery. 
     
     
         7 . The robotic surface treatment device as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the treatment pads comprise an abrasive material configured to scrub, polish, buff, or clean a hard surface. 
     
     
         8 . The robotic surface treatment device as claimed in  claim 7 , further comprising alarms and status indicators integrated into the main controller configured to alert an individual that the rechargeable battery power level is low, that the treatment fluid level is low, and/or that the electric motors have stalled or powered down. 
     
     
         9 . The robotic surface treatment device as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the electric motors that are used to rotate the wheels are servo motors or stepper motors. 
     
     
         10 . The robotic surface treatment device as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the plurality of sensors are positioned at an angle of approximately 22 degrees apart from one another. 
     
     
         11 . The robotic surface treatment device as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein at least one weight is provided on a top surface of the robotic surface treatment device, wherein a rod is positioned on a top surface of the robotic surface treatment device and the at least one weight is positioned on the rod. 
     
     
         12 . The robotic surface treatment device as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the robotic surface treatment device is operated through the use of a remote control device. 
     
     
         13 . A method of treating a surface using a robotic surface treatment device, comprising the steps of:
 a) providing a robotic surface treatment device, comprising:   at least two wheels;   at least two electric motors, wherein one electric motor is connected to one corresponding wheel via a motor shaft; and   at least two treatment pads, wherein each treatment pad is attached to a bottom surface of a corresponding wheel;   b) rotating the wheels of the robotic surface treatment device via rotation of the motor shafts, wherein the motor shafts are rotated by the electric motors, and   c) increasing the rotational speed of a first wheel comparative to a second wheel, thereby moving the first wheel along a radial trajectory line until the first wheel is positioned ahead of the second wheel, wherein the first wheel is initially positioned at the back of the robotic surface treatment device and the second wheel is initially positioned at the front of the robotic surface treatment device.   
     
     
         14 . The method of treating a surface as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the robotic surface treatment device further comprise a main controller positioned on top of and in connection with drive controllers positioned on top of each electric motor, a plurality of sensors integrated in the main controller, and at least one rechargeable battery connected to the main controller, and
 wherein the method further comprises the step of using the main controller to create a boundary line of the treatment area by using the sensors to determine the distance and coordinates of the treatment area.   
     
     
         15 . The method of treating a surface as claimed in  claim 14 , further comprising the step of walking the robotic surface treatment device along a treatment path by repeating steps (b) and (c) at least two times, wherein the wheels are rotated in an opposite direction after the first wheel has been brought to the front of the robotic surface treatment device. 
     
     
         16 . The method of treating a surface as claimed in  claim 15 , further comprising the step of recalculating the boundary line of the treatment area by using the sensors of the main controller to re-calibrate the distance and coordinates of the treatment area. 
     
     
         17 . The method of treating a surface as claimed in  claim 16 , further comprising the step of treating a circular area by rotating one wheel at one rotational speed and rotating the other wheel at a comparatively faster speed in the same rotational direction. 
     
     
         18 . The method of treating a surface as claimed in  claim 17 , further comprising the step of providing treatment fluid in at least one treatment fluid tank positioned on top of the robotic surface treatment device, and providing at least one treatment fluid tube that extends from the treatment fluid tank to a bottom surface of the robotic surface treatment device. 
     
     
         19 . The method of treating a surface as claimed in  claim 18 , further comprising the step of spreading treatment fluid on the treatment area and the treatment pads via the treatment fluid tube. 
     
     
         20 . The method of treating a surface as claimed in  claim 19 , further comprising the step of remotely operating the robotic surface treatment device via a remote control device.