DE102019210885A1 - VEHICLE INTERIOR CLEANING SYSTEM FOR PASSENGER VEHICLES, PASSENGER VEHICLE, PUBLIC TRANSPORT SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CLEANING THE INTERIOR OF A PASSENGER VEHICLE - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a vehicle interior cleaning system for passenger vehicles, comprising: a vehicle floor which is at least substantially continuously flat; an autonomous cleaning robot operated with an energy storage device, which is designed for guided, automatic cleaning of the vehicle floor; and a docking station fixed in or on the vehicle floor, which is designed to produce an energy supply for filling the energy store of the cleaning robot and for securely holding the cleaning robot. The present invention also relates to a passenger vehicle with such a vehicle interior cleaning system, a public transport system with a multiplicity of such passenger vehicles and a method for cleaning the interior of such a passenger vehicle.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a vehicle interior cleaning system for passenger vehicles, a passenger vehicle with such a vehicle interior cleaning system, a public transport system with a large number of such passenger vehicles and a method for cleaning the interior of such a passenger vehicle.

TECHNICAL BACKGROUND

Although the present invention and the problems on which it is based are explained in more detail below with reference to a passenger car, it is not restricted thereto, but can be applied to a wide variety of passenger vehicles. In particular, it can be a public passenger vehicle or large-capacity passenger vehicle of any kind. Furthermore, it does not necessarily have to be a road vehicle; rather, it can also be a rail, airplane, water vehicle or gondola vehicle.

Sometimes the geometries of a vehicle floor are largely defined by the construction of the vehicle and ergonomic requirements for the occupants. In the case of passenger cars in particular, the vehicle floor is divided by a center tunnel, center consoles and seat connections or other walls.

In particular, the modern development of battery-electric vehicles, which often carry the battery in the vehicle floor and neither require a drive train extending from the front to the rear, nor a transmission, more and more flat vehicle floors are made possible. This also opens up new possibilities for cleaning a vehicle interior.

For example, describes the DE 10 2016 220275 A1 an automatic cleaning of a vehicle interior by a vacuum cleaner strip that is guided forwards and backwards on rails mounted in the vehicle floor and parked under the vehicle seat.

There are also approaches for the automated detection of the degree of soiling in order to identify the need for cleaning. Such a system is for example in the DE 10 2016 215525 A1 described.

These previous solutions have each involved major interventions in the vehicle structure of a passenger car. This means that special productions or extensive adjustments to the series are necessary for implementation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Against this background, the present invention is based on the object of specifying an improved vehicle interior cleaning concept.

According to the invention, this object is achieved by a vehicle interior cleaning system with the features of patent claim 1 and / or by a passenger vehicle with the features of patent claim 11 and / or by a public transport system with the features of patent claim 14 and / or by a method for cleaning the interior of a passenger vehicle solved with the features of claim 15.

• - Ein Fahrzeuginnenraum-Reinigungssystem für Personenfahrzeuge, mit: einem Fahrzeugboden, der zumindest im Wesentlichen durchgehend flach ausgebildet ist; einem mit einem Energiespeicher betriebenen autonomen Reinigungsroboter, der zur führungslosen selbsttätigen Reinigung des Fahrzeugbodens ausgelegt ist; und einer in oder auf dem Fahrzeugboden angeordneten, insbesondere fest angeordneten, Docking Station, die zur Herstellung einer Energieversorgung zum Füllen des Energiespeichers des Reinigungsroboters und zur verkehrssicheren Halterung des Reinigungsroboters ausgebildet ist.
• - Ein Personenfahrzeug mit einem erfindungsgemäßen Fahrzeuginnenraum-Reinigungssystem.
• - Ein öffentliches Verkehrssystem, insbesondere Schienen- , Flug-, Wasser-, Gondel- oder Straßenverkehrssystem, mit: einer Vielzahl von erfindungsgemäßen Personenfahrzeugen, wobei eine zentrale Steuerung des öffentlichen Verkehrssystems die Reinigungsroboter der Personenfahrzeuge in Abhängigkeit eines aktuell bestehenden Beförderungsbedarfs aktiviert.
• - Ein Verfahren zur Innenraumreinigung eines Personenfahrzeugs, insbesondere eines erfindungsgemäßen Personenfahrzeugs, mit den Schritten: Feststellen eines von Personen unbesetzten Zustands; Entkoppeln eines mit einem Energiespeicher betriebenen autonomen Reinigungsroboters von einer Docking Station; Führungsloses selbsttätiges Reinigen eines Fahrzeugbodens mit dem Reinigungsroboter; Rückführen des Reinigungsroboters in die Docking Station; und Koppeln des Reinigungsroboters mit der Docking Station zum Entleeren von mit dem Reinigungsroboter gesammeltem Schmutz und/oder zum Füllen des Energiespeichers.

Accordingly, it is provided:

• A vehicle interior cleaning system for passenger vehicles, comprising: a vehicle floor which is at least substantially continuously flat; an autonomous cleaning robot operated with an energy storage device, which is designed for the self-guided cleaning of the vehicle floor; and a docking station arranged in or on the vehicle floor, in particular fixedly arranged, which is designed to produce an energy supply for filling the energy store of the cleaning robot and for securing the cleaning robot in a safe manner.
• A passenger vehicle with a vehicle interior cleaning system according to the invention.
• A public transport system, in particular a rail, air, water, gondola or road transport system, comprising: a large number of passenger vehicles according to the invention, with a central control of the public transport system activating the cleaning robots of the passenger vehicles depending on a currently existing transport requirement.
• A method for cleaning the interior of a passenger vehicle, in particular a passenger vehicle according to the invention, with the steps of: determining a state that is unoccupied by people; Decoupling of an autonomous cleaning robot operated with an energy store from a docking station; Guideless automatic cleaning of a vehicle floor with the cleaning robot; Return the cleaning robot to the docking Station; and coupling the cleaning robot to the docking station for emptying dirt collected with the cleaning robot and / or for filling the energy store.

The idea on which the present invention is based is to design a vehicle floor, at least essentially flat and thus accessible to a cleaning robot, and to provide an autonomous cleaning robot with a docking station specially designed for vehicle use in order to be able to carry out cleaning work automatically when the passenger vehicle is stationary .

A docking station or docking station is thus to be understood as a station to which the cleaning robot can automatically dock so that it is supplied with energy on the one hand and mechanically secured in a traffic-safe manner on the other. The docking station is designed in such a way that the cleaning robot can be held in it in a traffic-safe manner fully automatically, for which purpose it can either be reversibly anchored or, if necessary, received in the docking station in a form-fitting manner. For energy supply, the docking station is coupled to an on-board network of the vehicle or has its own energy storage device from which the cleaning robot can be supplied. The cleaning robot and the docking station accordingly have corresponding energy transmission devices.

A vehicle interior cleaning system according to the invention can be installed on the essentially continuously flat vehicle floor by attaching, in particular firmly, the docking station to the vehicle floor in a simple manner, in particular without interfering with the vehicle structure. Advantageously, no complex special constructions or custom-made products are necessary. This applies both to production with regard to the flexible possible installation in a new vehicle or, if the vehicle floor has a suitable, essentially flat design, for any retrofitting in an existing vehicle.

An at least substantially continuously flat vehicle floor is to be understood in the sense of the invention as a vehicle floor which has a continuous flat connection of the vehicle floor sections, in particular the footwells, that are typically to be cleaned regularly in a passenger vehicle. There is thus preferably a continuous, but at least essentially continuous, accessibility of the vehicle floor for the cleaning robot via a common flat plane. Under certain circumstances, a connection of flat floor sections that is accessible or continuous for the cleaning robot, for example in the form of a ramp, can be provided for bridging different levels. Nevertheless, apart from the connection, the sections to be cleaned are designed to be flat.

According to the invention, the vehicle floor is thus designed to be adapted for the use of a cleaning robot, in particular with accessibility, provided for a predetermined dimension of the cleaning robot, to points which are essential with regard to contamination, in particular to be cleaned regularly. Correspondingly, interior monuments which restrict accessibility, such as a center console or storage compartments under the vehicle seats, are preferably dispensed with.

A cleaning robot is to be understood as a cleaning unit which is designed for a cleaning function, for example vacuum cleaning and / or sweeping and / or brushing and / or wet cleaning and / or steam cleaning and / or disinfecting and / or the like. In further embodiments, the cleaning robot can provide different types of cleaning and can be designed to change and / or combine the types of cleaning adapted to local conditions, surfaces of the vehicle floor and / or degrees of soiling. The cleaning robot is autonomous, i.e. it moves independently with its own drive and without guide means. It cleans itself automatically, i.e. it functions or activates itself.

The solution according to the invention advantageously enables flexible use of the cleaning robot for cleaning vehicle interiors, which takes place when the passenger vehicle is idle. In this way, the solution according to the invention is suitable for all types of public transport systems.

The solution according to the invention is particularly suitable for so-called car sharing systems, in which vehicles offer a temporary user a private interior. The users would always like to meet this private interior space. In this way, the user's perception of comfort and thus the acceptance of car sharing can advantageously be increased.

Further possible uses exist in taxis, local public transport, such as buses or trams, or also in other types of highly frequented passenger vehicles with regular idle times, for example trains, gondolas, ferries, airplanes or the like.

According to the invention, the cleaning robot can depend on the currently existing Transport requirements during idle times, especially outside of peak times, while waiting times for self-cleaning the vehicle interior can be used without external intervention. The activation can be activated centrally by a control of the public transport system depending on the transport requirement. In this way, cleaning and control cycles of passenger vehicles in a public transport system, in particular in car sharing systems, taxi systems or also in local public transport, can advantageously be extended and the operating costs can thus be reduced.

The interior cleaning preferably only takes place when the passenger vehicle is unoccupied. A method according to the invention for cleaning the interior thus initially provides a step of determining a state that is unoccupied by people. The cleaning robot can then be decoupled and activated for guided cleaning. A combined cleaning in cooperation with cleaning staff, e.g. B. to remove larger items such as bottles, cups or the like. After the cleaning or if the cleaning is interrupted due to an unexpected need for transport, the cleaning robot is returned to the docking station or controlled to return to the docking station and coupled with it again.

In a coupled state, the cleaning robot can not only be supplied with energy but can also be emptied with regard to collected dirt. It would also be conceivable to refill any cleaning or disinfectant supplies, fragrances or the like.

Advantageous refinements and developments result from the further subclaims and from the description with reference to the figures of the drawing.

According to one embodiment, a vehicle seat is mounted on the vehicle floor and has a predetermined space between the vehicle floor and an underside of a seat surface. The space is designed as a passage and designed for the cleaning robot to pass through. In this way, the cleaning robot can advantageously pass the vehicle seat in a simple manner. In addition, any dirt that accumulates under the vehicle seat is removed. As an alternative or in addition to a passage, the docking station can be arranged in the space under the vehicle seat. The vehicle seat can be, for example, a back seat or also a front seat. Alternatively, an arrangement of the docking station in a niche in the vehicle floor, which extends below the trunk floor, would also be conceivable. The cleaning robot is particularly advantageously protected in passenger transport operations and is not visible to a user. Since, in addition, no guide elements or the like are provided in the interior, the interior cleaning system is advantageously imperceptible to a user of the passenger vehicle during operation.

According to a development, the vehicle seat is mounted on seat rails sunk into the vehicle floor. These have a spacing that is greater than a width or a diameter of the cleaning robot. The advantage of recessed seat rails is that the vehicle floor is essentially flat in the area of the seat rails. In particular, for this purpose the seat rails can be arranged below a flexible inner lining, for example a vehicle carpet, which is slotted in the region of the seat rails. A freedom of movement of the cleaning robot in the area of an intermediate space between the vehicle floor and an underside of the seat surface is therefore only given by a seat holder which is designed for carrying out the cleaning robot.

According to one embodiment, a plurality of vehicle seats is provided, each vehicle seat having a predetermined space between the vehicle floor and an underside of the seat surface, which is provided with dimensions for the cleaning robot to pass through. In this way, cleaning is advantageously also guaranteed under each of the vehicle seats. Furthermore, the cleaning robot can move from one footwell to the other in this way.

According to one embodiment, a trunk floor is also provided, the vehicle floor and the trunk floor having a connection that is accessible to the cleaning robot. For example, the trunk in the usual design of a motor vehicle can be arranged on a higher level than the vehicle floor inside the passenger cabin, with a ramp in particular being able to be provided for connection. Alternatively or in addition, it is also conceivable that the vehicle floor extends continuously into the trunk floor, for example as in a minibus. Alternatively or additionally, the docking station can be arranged in the trunk floor, for example in the case of an integral design of the docking station in or with the trunk floor. As an alternative or in addition, the docking station can also be arranged on the trunk floor if this is provided as part of the vehicle floor. Alternatively or additionally, the docking station can also be installed under the Be arranged trunk floor, in particular if the trunk floor is at a higher level than the vehicle floor. For example, the vehicle floor can then extend into a niche located below the trunk floor in which the docking station is provided.

According to one embodiment, the docking station has a selectively closable locking device which is designed to seal off the cleaning robot in a state that is inaccessible from the outside in the docking station. The locking device advantageously ensures, on the one hand, that the holder is safe for traffic, since the cleaning robot cannot unintentionally escape from the docking station. In addition, effective protection against theft, vandalism or other misuse of the cleaning robot is also provided in this way. For example, it can be a closable flap which is provided on the edge of a seat under which the docking station is arranged. Alternatively, it can be a closing flap or lockable door at the entrance of a recess or niche in which the docking station is arranged. It would also be conceivable that the docking station is designed to initially receive the cleaning robot and then to lower it into the vehicle floor. For example, an opening in the vehicle floor can be closed by means of the closing device, for example in the form of a sliding hatch or the like. However, it would also be conceivable that an upper side of the cleaning robot itself functions as a locking device provided in the vehicle floor or in the cleaning robot or interacts with the locking device for partitioning, for example by producing a flush connection with the vehicle floor.

According to one embodiment, the docking station has a collecting unit, which is designed to receive dirt collected during cleaning with the cleaning robot in a collecting container that can be removed from the docking station. The collecting unit can be, for example, a dirt chute or a dirt suction unit. The collecting unit is coupled with the cleaning robot so that the collected dirt is discharged from a container of the cleaning robot into a collecting container of the docking station. In the case of a dirt chute, this can be done with acceleration due to gravity, with the collecting container being arranged below the docking station. In the case of dirt suction, the collecting container can also be arranged elsewhere. The collecting container can in particular be designed to be large enough to receive the dirt for the duration of technical maintenance cycles of the passenger vehicle when the dirt accumulation is average. Advantageously, no additional effort is required to empty the collecting container. Another advantage of the collecting container is that the cleaning robot only needs a small dirt container, since the dirt can be regularly removed when docking with the docking station.

According to one embodiment, the cleaning robot is designed for guided, automatic cleaning of the vehicle floor according to a predetermined cleaning scheme. The cleaning scheme can in particular be a predetermined travel path of the cleaning robot on the vehicle floor. In this way it is advantageously ensured that the vehicle floor is always completely cleaned. Furthermore, the travel path can thus be optimized for the shortest possible cleaning time. For example, the optimal route can be determined by means of artificial intelligence and / or with an optimization algorithm.

According to a further development, the cleaning robot has a control device with a memory, a predetermined cleaning routine, in particular a predetermined travel path, being stored in the memory and the control device being designed to control the cleaning robot for cleaning according to the predetermined cleaning routine. The vehicle robot is thus on the move in an autonomous manner for cleaning and then returning to the docking station. Alternatively or additionally, the cleaning robot can have a sensor unit for scanning the vehicle floor. The sensor unit can in particular be designed for scanning the vehicle floor with regard to local soiling. In this case, the control device can be designed to flexibly adapt the cleaning scheme on the basis of sensor data recorded with the sensor, for example by means of artificial intelligence, or to predetermine it before the cleaning process. In this way, the cleaning result can advantageously be optimized and a reaction to heavier local contamination can be achieved. It would be conceivable, for example, that the cleaning robot is designed as a vacuum robot and can optionally switch to or switch on a wet cleaning mode in the area of heavy soiling. It goes without saying that it is also possible to drive over heavily soiled areas multiple times.

According to a further embodiment, the cleaning robot is designed for guided, automatic cleaning of the vehicle floor according to the chaos or random principle. In particular, it has a control device for this purpose, which is used for deterministically chaotic determination of a route on the vehicle floor for controlling the Cleaning robot is trained. Of course, it would also be conceivable to outsource parts of the control device, in particular if increased computing power is required, as software modules in a control device of the passenger vehicle and / or in a cloud and / or in a central control of a public transport system. In this case, the corresponding data connection is made available to the control device via communication means provided for this purpose.

Furthermore, according to one embodiment, the control device has a communication device via which the cleaning robot can be activated for cleaning and / or deactivated for returning to the docking station, depending on the situation. For example, in the case of a taxi or private vehicle, the communication device can communicate with an owner of the passenger vehicle, who can activate cleaning when the vehicle is not currently needed, or in the case of a car sharing vehicle, with a control center that activates cleaning depending on the current general transport needs .

According to one embodiment of the passenger vehicle, the cleaning robot can only be activated when the passenger vehicle is unoccupied. In particular, each vehicle seat of the passenger vehicle can have a seat occupancy sensor for this purpose, the cleaning robot being provided so that it can only be activated when each vehicle seat is unoccupied. This ensures that the automatic cleaning does not result in any restrictions on use and / or comfort.

According to a further embodiment, the cleaning robot can only be activated when the passenger vehicle is at a standstill. In this way it is ensured that cleaning only takes place in safe situations in which the cleaning robot does not need to be secured to protect occupants or third parties inside the vehicle interior.

The above configurations and developments can be combined with one another as desired, provided that it makes sense. Further possible configurations, developments and implementations of the invention also include combinations, not explicitly mentioned, of features of the invention described above or below with regard to the exemplary embodiments. In particular, the person skilled in the art will also add individual aspects as improvements or additions to the respective basic form of the present invention.

Figure list

• 1 eine schematische Darstellung eines Fahrzeuginnenraum-Reinigungssystems in einem aktivierten Zustand;
• 2 eine schematische Darstellung des Fahrzeuginnenraum-Reinigungssystems nach 1 in einem deaktivierten Zustand;
• 3 eine schematische Querschnitt-Darstellung eines Personenfahrzeugs mit einem Fahrzeuginnenraum-Reinigungssystem;
• 4 eine schematische Einzeldarstellung eines Reinigungsroboters;
• 5 eine schematische Längsschnitt-Darstellung eines Personenfahrzeugs mit einem Fahrzeuginnenraum-Reinigungssystem;
• 6 eine schematische Darstellung einer Docking Station;
• 7 eine schematische Draufsicht auf einen Fahrzeugboden und einen vorbestimmten Fahrweg eines Reinigungsroboters;
• 8 eine schematische Draufsicht auf einen Fahrzeugboden und einen Fahrweg eines Reinigungsroboters gemäß einer weiteren Ausführungsform; und
• 9 eine schematische Darstellung eines öffentlichen Verkehrssystems.

The present invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the exemplary embodiments specified in the schematic figures of the drawing. It shows:

• 1 a schematic representation of a vehicle interior cleaning system in an activated state;
• 2 a schematic representation of the vehicle interior cleaning system according to FIG 1 in a deactivated state;
• 3 a schematic cross-sectional representation of a passenger vehicle with a vehicle interior cleaning system;
• 4th a schematic individual representation of a cleaning robot;
• 5 a schematic longitudinal section illustration of a passenger vehicle with a vehicle interior cleaning system;
• 6 a schematic representation of a docking station;
• 7th a schematic plan view of a vehicle floor and a predetermined travel path of a cleaning robot;
• 8th a schematic plan view of a vehicle floor and a travel path of a cleaning robot according to a further embodiment; and
• 9 a schematic representation of a public transport system.

The accompanying figures of the drawing are intended to provide a further understanding of the embodiments of the invention. They illustrate embodiments and, in conjunction with the description, serve to explain principles and concepts of the invention. Other embodiments and many of the advantages mentioned emerge with a view to the drawings. The elements of the drawings are not necessarily shown to scale with one another.

In the figures of the drawing, identical, functionally identical and identically acting elements, features and components - unless otherwise stated - are each provided with the same reference symbols.

DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

1 shows a schematic representation of a vehicle interior cleaning system in an activated state.

A schematically symbolized vehicle interior is shown 19th of a passenger vehicle. For example, it is a passenger cell or cabin.

Inside the vehicle interior is a vehicle interior cleaning system 1 intended for passenger vehicles. This has a vehicle floor 2 on, which is completely flat in the schematic representation. Indeed, the vehicle floor is 2 at least substantially continuously flat. The vehicle interior cleaning system 1 also has one with an energy store 3 operated autonomous cleaning robot 4th on, the automated, guided cleaning of the vehicle floor 2 is designed. With the cleaning robot 4th it can be, for example, a vacuum and / or sweeping and / or wet cleaning robot. Accordingly, it has a cleaning device, not shown here for better clarity 25th on. Furthermore, the cleaning robot 4th preferably a dirt container in which any of the vehicle floor 2 cleaned dirt is collected.

In the activated state shown, the cleaning robot moves 4th autonomously, ie without a guide without guide elements such as rails or the like being provided, automatically over the vehicle floor 2 to clean it. The movement is symbolized by the double arrow shown and can of course not only be along a straight line lying in the plane of the drawing, but two-dimensionally over the entire area of the vehicle floor 2 be made.

In addition, the vehicle interior cleaning system 1 a docking station 5 on, in or on the vehicle floor 2 is provided fixedly. The cleaning robot can be safely accommodated here if it is deactivated after cleaning or to interrupt cleaning.

2 FIG. 11 shows a schematic representation of the vehicle interior cleaning system according to FIG 1 in a deactivated state.

The docking station 5 has an energy supply device, not shown here for the sake of clarity, to provide an energy supply for filling the energy store 3 to manufacture. For example, the energy store can be a battery and the docking station can be designed as a charging station. In particular, the battery can be coupled to an inductive element and the docking station can be designed as an inductive charging station with an induction coil for supplying energy. Of course, electrical contacting is also conceivable, for example via spring contacts, sliding contacts, plug contacts, or the like.

The docking station 5 is also used to hold the cleaning robot in a safe way 4th educated. In particular is the docking station 5 for form-fitting mounting of the cleaning robot 4th educated. For example, a reversible anchoring element, not shown here for the sake of clarity, can be provided for this purpose, which the cleaning robot 4th in the inactive state, form-fitting in the docking station 5 holds and when the cleaning robot is activated 4th is solvable. For example, a motor-operated flap is used as an anchoring element at an entrance to the docking station 5 or one in a housing recess of the cleaning robot 4th anchoring bolt or hook in question.

3 shows a schematic cross-sectional representation of a passenger vehicle 20th with a vehicle interior cleaning system 1 .

The passenger vehicle 20th has wheels 22nd as well as a passenger cell carried by the wheels, which here is the vehicle interior 19th forms.

Inside the vehicle interior 19th is the vehicle floor 2 arranged. On the vehicle floor 2 are vehicle seats 6 by means of a seat bracket 23 assembled. The seat bracket 23 is with two spaced apart in the transverse direction y in the vehicle floor 2 anchored feet 24 provided, and points between the vehicle floor 2 and a bottom 7th a seat surface of the respective seat a predetermined space 8th on. The gap 8th is designed as a passage and for the passage of the cleaning robot 4th designed in the direction of the vehicle longitudinal axis x. Accordingly, a distance b is that of the feet 24 which is a width of the gap 8th defined, larger than a diameter or a width d of the cleaning robot 4th educated.

A vehicle floor that is as flat as possible 2 The vehicle seat can provide with minimal unevenness 6 for example on in the vehicle floor 2 recessed seat rails. The seat rails can be arranged, for example, below a flexible inner lining which is slotted in the region of the seat rails, with the feet 24 stick out through the slot.

4th shows a schematic individual representation of a cleaning robot 4th .

This has a drive device for locomotion 21st , for example in the form of a Electrically operated steerable roller drive on. The drive device 21st is via a control device 15th controllable, which controls the course of the cleaning process, ie both the movement and the cleaning activity.

For cleaning the vehicle floor 2 instructs the cleaning robot 4th a cleaning facility 25th on, which is designed to remove dirt from the vehicle floor 2 to be cleaned off and in a dirt container 26th together. The cleaning device is used to clean off the dirt 25th for example in the form of a vacuum cleaner, a sweeping brush and / or a wet cleaning brush. The cleaning device supplies the energy required for cleaning 25th also via the energy storage 3 provided.

The control device 15th has a communication device 34 on what the cleaning robot 4th Can be activated depending on the situation for cleaning and / or for returning to the docking station 5 can be deactivated. Furthermore, the control device 15th a memory 16 in which a predetermined cleaning routine, for example in the form of a predetermined travel path, possibly together with a predetermined actuation of the cleaning device along the travel path 25th , can be stored.

In addition, the cleaning robot 4th one with the control device 15th coupled sensor unit 17th for scanning the vehicle floor 2 on. The sensor unit 17th is trained to detect local pollution. The control device 15th is designed accordingly, based on the sensor data of the sensor unit 17th adapt or pre-determine the cleaning schedule. For example, an artificial intelligence for categorizing and determining suitable cleaning can be implemented in the control device.

5 shows a schematic longitudinal section of a passenger vehicle 20th with a vehicle interior cleaning system 1 .

In this embodiment the docking station is 5 in the space 8th under one of the vehicle seats 6 arranged, here as an example under a rear seat or a rear bench seat. There is also one for the cleaning robot 4th accessible connection 10 in the form of a ramp from the vehicle floor 2 to a trunk floor 9 intended.

The docking station 5 has here a selectively closable locking device 11 in the form of a flap, which is used to partition off the cleaning robot that is inaccessible from the outside 4th in one in the docking station 5 recorded condition is designed. In the embodiment shown, there is a lockable pivotable flap between a footwell of the back seat and the space 8th provided below the back seat. Furthermore, the connection is exemplary in the embodiment shown 10 to the trunk floor 9 directly to the space in between 8th connected and another lockable hinged flap between the connection 10 and the trunk.

The passenger vehicle 20th is designed such that the cleaning robot 4th only when the passenger vehicle is unoccupied 20th can be activated. Each vehicle seat has a 6 of the passenger vehicle 20th a seat occupancy sensor 18th on. In particular, the control device 15th of the cleaning robot 4th with a vehicle control, for example a body control unit of the passenger vehicle, in communication connection, so that the information about the current occupancy of the vehicle seats between the vehicle control and the control device of the cleaning robot 5 is exchanged. In this case the controller is 15th designed or programmed in such a way that they use the cleaning robot 4th only actuated when all vehicle seats are unoccupied.

Information on the operating state of the passenger vehicle is preferably also provided 20th with the control device 15th replaced and the cleaning robot 4th by the tax authority 15th only when the passenger vehicle is stationary 20th activated.

In this way, a method for cleaning the interior of a passenger vehicle 20th perform, wherein a first step of the method comprises determining a state unoccupied by people. In a second step, the one with an energy storage 3 operated autonomous cleaning robots 4th from the docking station 5 decoupled. A third step includes the self-guided cleaning of the vehicle floor 2 with the cleaning robot 4th , whereupon the cleaning robot goes into the docking station in a fourth step 5 is returned. Then the cleaning robot 4th with the docking station 5 coupled again in a fifth step. In the coupled state, the energy store can 3 of the cleaning robot can be refilled. Optionally or additionally, the cleaning robot 4th collected dirt can be emptied.

6 shows a schematic representation of a docking station 5 .

The docking station 5 is on the vehicle floor 2 attached and in an inactive Condition of the cleaning robot 4th shown. The cleaning robot is accordingly 4th to the docking station 5 docked. In this docked state, the energy store is on the one hand 3 of the cleaning robot 4th filled and on the other hand a dirt container 26th of the cleaning robot 4th emptied.

The energy storage 3 is designed as a battery and with one in the docking station 5 integrated induction coil 35 rechargeable.

For emptying the dirt container 26th the docking station has a collecting unit 12th on which to take up when cleaning with the cleaning robot 4th collected dirt is formed. This dirt is in a collecting container 13 recorded which from the docking station 4th is designed to be removable.

At the collecting unit 12th it can be, for example, a dirt suction system that, when coupled with the cleaning robot 4th the collected dirt from the dirt container 26th of the cleaning robot 4th into the collecting container 13 the docking station 5 leads away. The collecting container 13 can for example in the vehicle interior 19th from the docking station 5 can be removed. In the embodiment shown, the collecting container is 13 but on an outside of the vehicle floor 2 arranged and designed to be removable from the outside. In this case the collecting unit 12th one through the vehicle floor 2 through connection to the collecting container 13 on.

7th shows a schematic plan view of a vehicle floor 2 and a predetermined route 14th a cleaning robot 4th .

In the illustrated embodiment, which schematically shows a passenger car interior, are on the vehicle floor 2 two front seats 6 and rear vehicle seats in the form of a rear bench seat 6 'with three rear seats are provided. The docking station 5 is arranged here under the rear seat bench 6 'in the area of a left rear seat. The docking station is accordingly 5 hidden here and only drawn in with dashed lines.

The predetermined route 14th of the cleaning robot 4th is designed to cover all of the vehicle floor's footwells 2 , that is, the floor sections in front of the vehicle seats 6 and seats of the rear seat bench 6 'to be cleaned. The two front seats 6 are like in terms of 3 described with a space formed as a passage 8th to the vehicle floor 2 attached so that the cleaning robot 4th starting from the docking station 5 first through the rear left footwell and under the left front seat into the front left footwell. From there he can due to the consistently flat design of the vehicle floor 2 without a center tunnel you can get directly into the front right footwell and under the front right seat into the rear right footwell. Finally, the footwell of the central seat is moved to the cleaning robot 4th returns to the rear left footwell and back to the docking station 5 can be performed.

According to this predetermined route 14th the cleaning robot moves automatically over the vehicle floor without a guide 2 and cleans it after one with the driveway 14th predetermined cleaning schedule.

The route shown here 14th can optionally be supplemented by a trip over the connection 10 according to 5 and over a trunk floor 9 as well as a subsequent return to the docking station 5 .

That in relation to the vehicle floor 2 A cleaning scheme described for a car can also be transferred to other, in particular larger, passenger vehicles, for example local public transport, rail transport or air transport.

8th shows a schematic plan view of a vehicle floor 2 and a path of a cleaning robot 4th according to a further embodiment.

For example, the vehicle floor shown can be 2 be an aircraft cabin floor, with the docking station 5 here on the vehicle floor 2 in the area outside the vehicle seats designed as a row of seats 6 is provided to the hand luggage space required in air traffic in the area of an intermediate space 8th not to impair under the seats in the row of seats.

In the illustrated embodiment, a first cleaning robot 5 and a second cleaning robot 5 'is provided, which due to the much larger area of the vehicle floor 2 are provided here for parallel cleaning.

As soon as the passengers have disembarked from the aircraft after landing, the aircraft cabin floor is automatically cleaned by the cleaning robots 5 , 5 'cleaned.

The first cleaning robot 5 is designed for cleaning the footwells and in front of the seats and hand luggage spaces under the seats. After decoupling and exiting the wall it becomes an on-board toilet 27 arranged docking station 5 guided under a rearmost row of seats, the seats 6A, 6B, 6C here in the space 8th one lengthways and one crosswise for the cleaning robot 5 have accessible passage. The driveway 14th of the first cleaning robot 5 then runs alternately through a footwell and hand luggage space of one of the seats 6A, 6B, 6C. First he steps into the hand luggage compartment of a seat 6C in the aisle 29 in, then travels longitudinally further into the footwell and then transversely into the footwell of the central seat 6B, from there longitudinally back into the hand luggage compartment of the central seat 6B and further transversely into the hand luggage compartment of the window seat 6A. When it reaches the drop side, the cleaning robot 4th guided in the longitudinal direction forward into the footwell of the window seat 6A and under the window seat arranged in front of it into the hand luggage compartment and the footwell of the window seat of the next row. In this way the first cleaning robot can 5 Work ahead through the rows of seats with a meander-shaped, predetermined route for cleaning the hand luggage compartments and footwells and then, in particular after reaching and cleaning the front row of seats, in the docking station 5 to return.

The second cleaning robot 5 'is in a docking station 5' in a wall of one of the on-board toilets 27 opposite functional room 28 arranged. The second cleaning robot 5 'is for cleaning the central aisle 29 provided in a second predetermined travel path 14 '. After exiting the docking station 5 ', it first travels along the edge of the central aisle 29 until he has driven it once in one complete lap, then spiraling in further laps to the middle of the aisle 29 to work and then return to the docking station 5 '.

It would of course be conceivable to have a third or additional cleaning robot 5 to be provided. For example, the cleaning robot shown here 5 only for cleaning the rows of seats attached to the right side of the aircraft shown in the upper half of the picture 6 provided and the route 14th be predetermined accordingly, so that a third cleaning robot 5 ″, not shown here for the sake of clarity, can be provided for similar cleaning of the left rows of seats in the lower half of the picture with a third predetermined path 14 ″, in particular mirror-inverted to the central aisle.

9 shows a schematic representation of a public transport system 30th .

With the public transport system 30th this is, for example, a car sharing system that uses a large number of passenger vehicles 20th according to one of the preceding 3 to 7th having. The car sharing system has a central control 31 intended to organize which the cleaning robots 4th of passenger vehicles 20th activated depending on a current transport requirement.

The various passenger vehicles 20th preferably have GPS receivers and can send their current position within the area to the central controller via access points and / or satellites 31 of the public transport system 30th Report. The central control 31 has access to map data of the affected area shown here excerpts, for example in a database 32 are stored. The central control 31 calculates a current transport requirement within the area concerned on the basis of data models and / or the stored map data of the area as well as on the basis of transmitted sensor data from the passenger vehicles and / or user inquiries from car sharing users. On the basis of the ascertained transport requirement, the passenger vehicles available in the area concerned are instructed to carry out the passenger transport. For example, it can be an autonomous passenger vehicle which can be dynamically switched to a transport mode for a predetermined transport order. Within the area, users can, for example, via portable user terminals such as smartphones or the like, a transport requirement to the central controller 31 Report. For example, if a user U1 reports a need for transportation to the central controller by means of a portable user terminal 31 , this can be a nearest passenger vehicle 20th to the reported position of user U1, as in 9 shown schematically. In the operation of the staff vehicle 20th is a cleaning robot 4th a vehicle interior cleaning system in the associated docking station 5 secured.

Another passenger vehicle 20th is due to a currently only low transport requirement and another passenger vehicle located in the area when a transport requirement is called up 20th with a high probability currently not needed and in a parking lot 33 switched off. The central control 31 therefore controls the cleaning robot 4th des in the parking lot 33 parked passenger vehicle 20th via its communication facility 34 for cleaning vehicle interiors according to a predetermined cleaning scheme according to a predetermined route 14th at.

Although the present invention has been fully described above using preferred exemplary embodiments, it is not based on them limited, but modifiable in many different ways.

For example, the cleaning robot 4th According to a further embodiment or a further functional mode, it can also be designed for guided, automatic cleaning of the vehicle floor according to the chaos or random principle. In this case that would be a control device 15th for deterministically chaotic determination of a route 14th on the vehicle floor 2 to control the cleaning robot 4th formed, with the sensor unit 17th recorded data can also be taken into account.

Furthermore, there would also be an arrangement of the docking station in further embodiments 5 under a front seat or alternatively in, on or under the trunk floor 9 conceivable.

The project that led to this registration was funded by the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under grant agreement No. 730323.

List of reference symbols

1

Vehicle interior cleaning system

2

Vehicle floor

3

Energy storage

4th

Cleaning robot

5

Docking station

6th

Vehicle seat

7th

bottom

8th

Space

9

Trunk floor

10

connection

11

Locking device

12

Collecting unit

13

Collecting container

14th

Track

15th

Control device

16

Storage

17th

Sensor unit

18th

Seat occupancy sensor

19th

Vehicle interior

20th

Passenger vehicle

21st

Drive device

22nd

wheel

23

Seat bracket

24

foot

25th

Cleaning facility

26th

Dirt container

27

On-board toilet

28

Function room

29

Central aisle

30th

traffic system

31

central control

32

Database

33

parking spot

34

Communication facility

35

Induction coil

QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Patent literature cited

• DE 102016220275 A1 [0005]
• DE 102016215525 A1 [0006]

Claims (15)

Vehicle interior cleaning system (1) for passenger vehicles, with: a vehicle floor (2) which is at least substantially continuously flat; an autonomous cleaning robot (4) operated with an energy storage device (3), which is designed for the self-guided cleaning of the vehicle floor (2); and a docking station (5) arranged in or on the vehicle floor (2), which is designed to produce an energy supply for filling the energy store (3) and to hold the cleaning robot (4) in a safe manner. Vehicle interior cleaning system according to Claim 1 , characterized in that a vehicle seat (6) is mounted on the vehicle floor (2) and has a predetermined space (8) between the vehicle floor (2) and an underside (7) of a seat surface, the space (8) as a passage designed and designed for the passage of the cleaning robot (4) and / or wherein the docking station (5) is arranged in the space under the vehicle seat (6). Vehicle interior cleaning system according to Claim 2 , characterized in that a plurality of vehicle seats (6) is provided, each vehicle seat (6) having a predetermined space (8) between the vehicle floor (2) and an underside (7) of the seat surface, which is for the cleaning robot (4 ) dimensioned is provided. Vehicle interior cleaning system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a trunk floor (9) is also provided, the vehicle floor (2) and the trunk floor (9) being a connection (10) accessible to the cleaning robot (4), in particular a ramp , have and / or wherein the vehicle floor (2) extends continuously into the trunk floor (9) and / or wherein the docking station (5) is arranged in, on or under the trunk floor (9). Vehicle interior cleaning system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the docking station (5) has a selectively closable locking device (11) which is used to seal off the cleaning robot (4) in a state received in the docking station (5) inaccessible from the outside is designed. Vehicle interior cleaning system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the docking station has a collecting unit (12) which is used to collect dirt collected during cleaning with the cleaning robot (4) in a collecting container (5) which can be removed from the docking station (5). 13) is designed. Vehicle interior cleaning system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cleaning robot (4) is designed for guided, automatic cleaning of the vehicle floor according to a predetermined cleaning scheme, in particular a predetermined travel path (14) of the cleaning robot (4) on the vehicle floor (2) . Vehicle interior cleaning system according to Claim 7 , characterized in that the cleaning robot (4) has a control device (15) with a memory (16), a predetermined cleaning routine, in particular a predetermined travel path (14), being stored in the memory (16) and the control device (16) being formed is to control the cleaning robot (4) for cleaning according to the predetermined cleaning routine and / or wherein the cleaning robot (4) has a sensor unit (17) for scanning the vehicle floor (2), in particular with regard to local soiling, the control device (15 ) is designed to adapt or predetermine the cleaning scheme on the basis of sensor data acquired with the sensor (17) using artificial intelligence and / or an optimization algorithm. Vehicle interior cleaning system according to one of the Claims 1 to 6 , characterized in that the cleaning robot (4) is designed for guided, automatic cleaning of the vehicle floor according to the chaos or random principle, in particular has a control device (15) which is used for deterministically chaotic determination of a route (14) on the vehicle floor (2) Control of the cleaning robot (4) is formed. Vehicle interior cleaning system according to one of the Claims 8 or 9 , characterized in that the control device (15) has a communication device (34) via which the cleaning robot (4) can be activated for cleaning and / or deactivated for returning to the docking station (5) depending on the situation. Passenger vehicle (20) with a vehicle interior cleaning system (1) according to one of the preceding claims. Passenger vehicle after Claim 11 , characterized in that the cleaning robot (4) can only be activated when the passenger vehicle (20) is unoccupied, wherein in particular each vehicle seat (6) of the passenger vehicle has a seat occupancy sensor (18) and the cleaning robot (4) is provided that can only be activated when each vehicle seat (6) is unoccupied by people. Passenger vehicle after Claim 11 or 12th , characterized in that the cleaning robot (4) can only be activated when the passenger vehicle (20) is at a standstill. Public transport system (30), in particular rails, air, water, gondola or road transport system, comprising: a multiplicity of passenger vehicles (20) according to one of the Claims 11 to 13 , wherein a central controller (31) of the public transport system (30) activates the cleaning robots (4) of the passenger vehicles (20) as a function of a currently existing transport requirement. Method for cleaning the interior of a passenger vehicle (20), in particular a passenger vehicle according to one of the Claims 11 to 13 , with the steps of: determining a state that is unoccupied by people; Decoupling of an autonomous cleaning robot (4) operated with an energy store (3) from a docking station (5); Guideless automatic cleaning of a vehicle floor (2) with the cleaning robot (4); Returning the cleaning robot (4) to the docking station (5); and coupling the cleaning robot (4) to the docking station (5) for emptying dirt collected by the cleaning robot (4) and / or for filling the energy store (3).

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