CAFE Semi-automated cost-effective facade cleaning system

CAFE Project

 

Semi-Automated Cost-Effective Facade Cleaning System

Objectives

The main objective of the project is the design of a semi-automatic and economically efficient system able to accomplish cleaning task in building facades.

Keywords: Construction Robotics, Service Robots, Cleanning Robots.

Funding: European Union. COMPETITIVE AND SUSTAINABLE GROWTH PROGRAMME. CRAF-1999-71236

 

 

People:

  • Dr. Ernesto Gambao
  • Dr. Miguel Hernando
  • Eng. Felipe Hernández
  • Eng. Eduardo Pinilla

Project extension: From 2002 to 2004.

Project Partners:

SME Participants:

  • Grupo Ebroalza, S.L., Spain
  • Eclicar, S.L., Spain
  • Estructuras y Contratas Arnaiz, S.L., Spain
  • Dornier Technologie GmbH & Co. KG, Germany
  • Manntech Fassadenbefahrsysteme GmbH, Germany
  • Britannia Cleaning Services Limited, United Kingdom
  • Building Restoration And Cleaning Limited (BRC), United Kingdom
  • Tamegar, S.L., Spain

 

RTD Performers:

  • Fraunhofer-Institute IPK, Germany
  • Fraunhofer-Institute IFF, Germany
  • Instituto Tecnológico de Aragón (ITA), Spain
  • Universidad Politénica de Madrid (UPM-DISAM), Spain

Description:

The system to be designed in the project will be able to cope with different types of building facades, increasing the productivity, reducing the risk for the workers and contributing to preserve the environment by using adequate cleaning procedures and contributing to the faí§ade maintenance allowing more frequent cleanings. To design a successful semi-automatic system it will be necessary to provide a reliable, simple and economically efficient machine. The industrial performance objectives are:

RTD goals:

  • The system must be small (much less than 100 cm x 80 cm);
  • The machine must master obstacles such as window frames;
  • One person must be able to handle the system;
  • Water and detergent must be recovered avoiding spilling;
  • Time to complete the cleaning of one square meter of flat glass faí§ade should be less than 4 minutes.

Pictures:

Articles:

Web page: www.cafeproject.upm.es