Multipurpose Automated Steward (MAS): A Versatile System for Autonomous Shipboard Cleaning

ProtoInnovations proposes to develop a versatile autonomous shipboard cleaning robot that we call the Multipurpose Automated Steward (MAS). Shipboard cleaning presents a complex environment with requirements to clean floors, walls, counters, and overheads in confined and fully three-dimensional spaces that lack predictable geometry. Current state-of-the-art systems for industrial application in large, open, and primarily two-dimensional spaces are ill-suited for the Navy’s needs. Small iterations and scaling of current systems are unlikely to provide appropriate solutions; instead, we will design: an agile and scalable mobility system able to work both in confined and open spaces, a versatile and conformable set of cleaning tools for various jobs, algorithms for autonomously avoiding obstacles and sensitive electronics while efficiently cleaning all shipboard surfaces, and an open architecture for communications and control. The MAS design will be formulated through identification of requirements, cost/benefit analyses, and technical trades. The level of detail attained will be sufficient to demonstrate, through simulation, that all requirements have been met and the perceived cost and benefit of the MAS relative to current manual cleaning to determine feasibility.