Arduino-Based Automatic Floor Wax Applicator

A Proposal presented to the Science Review Committee

Camarines Sur National High School

In partial fulfilment of the Requirements in Robotics

By:

Edward Lawrence T. Bolofer

Gabriel B. Delos Reyes

Princess Mae R. Cobar

Maria Yshie R. Mallari

Jekaleen Erin DL. Valencia

Grace A. Velarde

June Emmilyn P. Selpuvida

2020
 RESEARCH PLAN
Title: Arduino-Based Automatic Floorwax Applicator

A.) Rationale

Throughout the years, many engineering applications an d devices has made our lives

easier and more comfortable. Devices such as washing machines and dishwashers have served

this purpose [1]. In different circumstances, facilities of today are becoming smarter and

automated and the idea of automation creates convenience and more time for people. With life

getting busier, various problems and difficulties are being encountered in providing suitable

means for cleaning, and waxing floor areas, especially in schools and other facilities. In

establishments such as schools, it is necessary to wax the open areas that are acquired by

particles regularly. Cleaning is an essential activity in our day routine to maintain hygiene. Thus,

it is necessary that an even wax coat be properly maintained on continuous basis to protect the

floors. There are numerous and varied arrangements of cleaning machines presently in use for

polishing floor areas, but the application of a liquid floor wax or other such finish to a floor has

been accomplished principally by hand. Applying the liquid wax to a floor is an onerous and

time consuming method for applying a finish to the floor.

Different types of floor cleaning machines are available today such as floor buffers,

automatic floor scrubbers and extractors that can clean almost all types of hard floors or carpeted

flooring surfaces in very less time than it would have taken using traditional cleaning methods

[2]. Basically, these cleaners are distinguished on their cleaning expertise like floor mopping, dry

vacuum cleaning etc. Some products are based on microcontrollers while some utilizes laser

mapping technique [3]. Each cleaning and operating mechanism has its own advantages and
disadvantages. Some are less-time consuming and relatively efficient but costly, vice versa. In

developing such device, there are several factor to be considered, i.e. the range of cleaning area,

path planning, and maintenance [4]. Initially the main focus was on having a cleaning device. As

the time pass on many improvements were made and more efficient were developed [5].

In relation to improvements on floor wax applicators and more particularly to implement

for applying liquid wax and polishing floor, the researchers came up with an idea of building and

programming a device of this character in which the floor wax applicator is automatic and is

equipped with applicator adapted to apply wax uniformly to a surface to be treated in a manner

so that a constant and steady flow of liquid is obtained ensuring a complete and thorough

application of the liquid on the floor surface. The cleaner is designed in such a way that it is

capable of cleaning the area reducing the human effort just by starting the application of the

liquid wax.

B.) Research Questions, Hypotheses, Expected Outcomes, Engineering Goals

Research Questions

This study will answer the following questions:

1. Is the device capable of applying and wiping the floor wax on the floor?

2. Does the device work automatically applies and wipes the floor wax on the floor?

3. Does the device effectively applied and wiped the floor wax by working automatically?
4. Is there a significant difference between applying the floor wax using the device and applying

the floor wax manually?

Hypotheses

H0: There is no significant difference between applying the floor wax using the device and

applying the floor wax manually.

Ha: There is a significant difference between applying the floorwax using the device and

applying the floorwax manually.

Expected Outcome

The researchers expect to design and construct an Automatic Arduino-based floor wax

applicator which can occupy around the area using the rug as the wiper. The device will

distribute the drops of floor wax and will be wiped by the rug.

Engineering Goals

The goal of this study is to make an automatically working device that will apply floor

wax and also wipes the floor wax applied on the floor of a particular place without a help of a

person. The device will work automatically according to the Arduino code used to program the

device. The motion of the device will base on the DC motors and Servo motors attached into it.
C.) Methodology

A. Material

The researchers will use the following materials:

Materials Size/Quantity Function

Serves as the main controller of

Arduino Atmega 1piece
the entire device
To make the device move
Wheels 4 pieces (2 inch radius) backwards, sideward or
frontward

Ultrasonic Sensor 1 piece To monitor if the device will

Main material to be used in

Plywood 1 piece making the base and sides of
the device

Powerbank 1 piece (10800 mAh) Used as the power source

Tool used in making holes for

Drill 1 piece the electrical connections such
as wires

Used to make the bases and

Wood Adhesive 1 piece sides attached together for a
compact device

DC Motor 6 piece Used to rotate the wheels

Used to rotate the wheels in

Servo Motor 2 piece
terms of its angular position
 Rug 3 pieces Used to wipe the floor wax
Used to hold the rugs and also
Pipe 1 meter serves as the way of the flow of
the floor wax
Floor wax 2 boxes Used to test the device
Used as the storage of the floor
Plastic Container 1 piece
wax inside the device

B. Methods

1. Construction of the Base

The Plywood will be used as the base and cover of the device. The researchers will cut

the plywood with a dimension of:

Fig. 1 Layout of the Base

 Fig. 2 Layout of the Sides

There will be a (2) longer sides, (2) shorter sides and (1) base. After cutting, the sides and

the base will be attached together using a wood adhesive and subsequently be dried for at least

10 minutes.

2. Coding of the Arduino Atmega

The researchers will use the Arduino app to input codes and commands in order to make

the device be in control and successfully working. Using such codes, the device will work

automatically.

3. Construction of the Device Controls

a. Wheels

The bore of the wheels will be attached in the shaft of the DC motor using an adhesive

and will also be attached at the corner part of the bases. Two of the wheels will be attached at the

back of the base and the other two will be attached in a Servo motor in order to make the device
move leftwards and rightwards. The two wheels with a Servo motor will be placed at the front of

the base.

b. Wiper

The rugs will be cut lengthwise and afterwards will be slip on into the pipe with a

lengthwise cut off space in the middle of it. The rugs will be attached into the pipe using also an

adhesive and let be dried. After drying, the middle portion of the pipe at the top will be attached

also in the shaft of the DC motor and subsequently be placed below the base of the device near

the hole where the floor wax was being released.

c. Flow Controller

Inside the base, there will be a container, a funnel-shaped like, for the floor wax which

has a hole at the bottom part that will be the way of the release of the wax. At the upper part of

the container, the researchers will put a DC motor with a mixer attached on its shaft to release a

right amount of floor wax.

d. Ultrasonic Sensor

The Ultrasonic sensor will be attached at the middle in front and at the back of the device

to monitor whether there will be a barrier or block on the way of the device while running.

4. Manipulation of the Floor wax

The researchers will use 2 boxes of floor wax for the device testing. The floor wax that

will be used is a semi-liquid type of wax and also a red-dyed color.

 5. Device Testing

As the device completely made, the researchers then will test run the device according to

its expected outcome. The researchers will test the device on a flat surface that is appropriate to

apply floor wax. The researchers also will collect data from the results given by the device.

C. Flow of Procedures

Acquisition of Materials

Construction of the Base and

Sides of the main device

Coding of the Arduino

Construction of the Device

Controls

Manipulation of the Floor

Wax

Device Testing

Fig. 3 Paradigm of the study

D.) Risk and Safety

Constructing the Device

Physical injuries can be obtained during the construction of device, like burns from

soldering of the wires. Mask and gloves are musts equipment during the device construction for

respiratory concerns and safety purposes.

Device Testing

The device testing will use flat surface indoor and possible contact with edges around the

area. Preventing the device from the people is highly recommended.

E. ) Data Analysis

The researchers shall record the data in every parameters set for the device according to

the table below.

Table 1. The Duration of Time Covered by the Area Manually.

Trials Time (minutes) Area (m2)

Trial 1

Trial 2

Trial 3

Trial 4

Trial 5
Table 2. The Duration of Time Covered by the Area Using the Device.

Trials Time (minutes) Area (m2)

Trial 1

Trial 2

Trial 3

Trial 4

Trial 5

F.) Bibliography

[1] M. R. Khan1, N. M. L. Huq, M. M. Billah, S. M. Ahmmad, Design and Development of

Mopping Robot-‘HotBot’, Department of Mechatronics Engineering, Kullyyah of Engineering,

International, IOP Publishing.

[2] Semi-Automatic Robotic Floor Cleaner with Obstacle Avoidance for indoor Applications,

Mr. Chavan Swaroop Chandrakant, International Research Journal of Engineering and

Technology (IRJET), Department of Mechanical Engineering, KIT’s College of Engineering,

Kolhapur, Maharashtra, India, 2018, IRJET

[3] Smart Floor Cleaning Robot (CLEAR), Uman Khalid, 1 Faculty of Electronic Engineering,

Ghulam Ishaq Khan Institute of Engineering Sciences and Technology. Pakistan, Hamdard

Institute of Engineering & Technology, Hamdard University, Karachi, Pakistan

[4] Manya Jain, Pankaj Singh Rawat, Assist. Prof. Jyoti Morbale, Automatic Floor Cleaner,

International Research Journal of Engineering and Technology (IRJET), Volume: 04 Issue: 04,

April 2017

[5] Ajith Thomas, Rohith M.S, Febin Jolly, Jeeson Cheriyan, Ms. Renu Mary George, An

Advanced Mobile Robot for Floor Cleaning, International Journal of Advanced Research in

Eletrical, Electronics and Instrumentation Engineering, Vol. 5, Special Issue 3, March 2016