Engineering:picaBot

picaBot floor vacuuming robot.

picaBot is a domestic robotic floor cleaner that sweeps, vacuums, and disinfects floors simultaneously.

Description

Photocatalytic UV tube on the underside to kill harmful microbes.

picabot originated from the words pica and robot. Pica means a craving to eat substances that has no nutrition like dirt or chalk.

picabot eVo2, based on QQ2L by Metapo Inc, was launched in July 2008. It operated on rechargeable Nickel-Metal Hydride (NiMH) battery, comes with a docking station(home base), power adaptor, remote control and a spare filter. The robot would return for recharge automatically whenever it finished its job, the battery level is low or anytime commanded to return with a remote control.

Since Metapo first launched the US version of the robot called Infinuvo QQ1 in the US market sometime in 2003, it has undergone several upgrades including 3 major ones. Compare to QQ1, the QQ2L has improved much on its Artificial Intelligence(AI), battery run time and product reliability.

picaBot eVo2 has further improved on the floor disinfecting, the suspension system and battery pack of the robot compare to the US version of QQ2L. The result is better germicidal effect when it added photocatalysis to the UV tube mounted on the bottom of the robot. The improved suspension system allow the robot to traverse different type and height of floors with greater ease. Higher spec battery increase the robot's running time significantly.

Latest development

In early 2009, the issue of short run time has been resolved with the new battery supplier. The latest picaBot eVo2M which was launched in early February 2010 with a 2800mAH battery pack has received favorable feedback from users with many claiming run time of more than 100 minutes. Besides upgrading done in Malaysia, Corvan also introduced a 100% run-in program since 2008 where every robot is run a full cycle with all functions working. The objective of the upgrade and 100% run-in program is to improve the reliability of the robot.

In the 4th quarter of 2019, Corvan launched the new AI(Artificial Intelligence) Series, which includes 4 models: picaBot Lite, picaBot Lite+, picaBot Elite, and picaBot Elite+. The new AI(Artificial Intelligence) Series uses some of the more advanced technologies similar to those used in self-driving vehicles. It comes with Laser Distance Sensing(LDS), gyroscope, accelerometer, Infra Red sensors for wall and drop sensing. These enables the picaBot AI to deal with millions of scenarios all by itself, effectively planning and cleaning systematically. An integrated impeller churn out vacuuming power of 2250pa. The remote control via mobile app includes the area’s coverage map and real-time tracking, enabling users to track the robot and have full control via their mobile devices. Other app features include cleaning history, no-go line, in-app scheduling and zone cleaning. The "+" models include a microfibre mop pad attach to a 100ml water tank that is enough to wet mop a room of up to 600 sqft. Thus allow the picaBot to vacuum and mop simultaneously. The optional 400ml electronically controlled water tank is design to mop up to 2000sqft area. enabling robotic cleaner to sweep, vacuum and mop at the same time.

LiDAR mapping and IR sensing enable picaBot to navigate around obstacles smoothly

See also

• Comparison of domestic robots
• Domestic robot
• List of vacuum cleaners
• Robotic mapping

References

https://www.theborneopost.com/2010/05/06/robot-to-take-over-floor-cleaning-chore/ https://www.pressreader.com/malaysia/the-star-malaysia/20111023/286972536357289 https://www.pressreader.com/malaysia/the-star-malaysia/20120214/294888161221165