Autonomous Dual-Sided Magnetic Window Cleaning Robot for Skyscraper Maintenance Applications

Abstract

Window cleaning in tall buildings poses serious dangers and operational hazards. A dual-sided magnetic window cleaning robot that increase efficiency, safety, and usage ability is presented in this study. This apparatus consists of two synchronized units: an inner unit operated by the user from inside the building and an outer unit magnetically coupled to move parallelly. The robot is fitted with neodymium magnets that provide a powerful grip, facilitating smooth cleaning through automated movement. The cleaning mechanism integrates a microfiber pad, a rotating brush, and a cleaning solution dispenser to increase usability. The robot includes anti-fall sensors to ensure secure operation under any weather conditions. Wireless control via a remote or mobile application allows real-time monitoring and user adjustments. There is a reliable mechanism for fixing the equipment and sensors that can automatically stop the operation if hazardous environmental conditions are detected. This project aims to bring a paradigm shift in high-rise window cleaning by significantly reducing manual labour, improving safety, and enhancing operational efficiency. Why settle for less when WindowWhiz offers a smarter, safer, and more effective alternative?

Introduction

Robotic systems are increasingly replacing humans in hazardous and inefficient tasks like high-rise window cleaning, traditionally done using risky scaffolding and ropes. Manual cleaning is slow and dangerous, with significant safety incidents reported (e.g., 62 fatalities over a decade in the US). Robots like Sky Cleaner 3 and TITO 500 have dramatically improved cleaning speed and precision, while reducing environmental impact by recycling water.

The discussed project introduces a dual-sided magnetic window cleaning robot designed to be safer, more economical, and easier to deploy than large commercial robots. It uses strong neodymium magnets to clamp on both sides of a window, motorized wheels for smooth vertical and horizontal movement, and a combination of sensors (IR, ultrasonic, IMU) for navigation and obstacle avoidance. The cleaning system includes rotating microfiber pads with water misting and water recycling for eco-friendliness.

The robot’s core subsystems include adhesion (vacuum suction and magnetic coupling), locomotion, navigation, and cleaning. Its design focuses on safety features like fall prevention, magnetic strength monitoring, and wireless remote control via a mobile app. The app uses protocols like Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, MQTT, or WebSockets to allow users to control the robot, monitor its status, and receive alerts.

Materials used include ABS plastic casing, high-torque motors, vacuum pumps, rechargeable batteries, and powerful magnets. The electronics are centered around an ESP32 microcontroller programmed with C++ or MicroPython, implementing PID algorithms for precise motor control. Safety systems include Hall effect sensors to monitor magnet strength and IMUs for balance.

Conclusion

The paper highlights the feasibility and innovativeness of a double-sided magnetic window cleaning robot appropriate for high-rise buildings. The robot is equipped with a magnetic coupling mechanism that can tightly adhere to both sides of a glass window so that its internal and external cleaning modules can move at the same time. This offers comprehensive cleaning coverage with significantly minimized risk of conventional manual cleaning. The integration of automated cleaning devices like rotating brushes, squeegees, and spray nozzles enhances the cleaning efficiency, conserves labor, and enables the machine to operate independently or with little manual intervention. Moreover, the integration of heavy-duty safety aspects like fail-safe power devices, emergency rope tethers, and real-time monitoring sensors gives an assured performance under adverse environmental conditions like heavy rains or winds. This robot technology is not only efficient and secure but also cost-effective in the long term, thus an eco-friendly solution in contrast to common high-rise window cleaning technologies that in most instances are human resources, scaffolding, or crane-based. Future research would emphasize performance improvement with AI-driven navigation for optimal path planning and collision avoidance. Autonomous cleaning of brushes and internal parts will also be researched to improve the robot\'s operational independence and minimize maintenance. These developments will further improve performance, reliability, and scalability for mass commercial use in the building maintenance sector.

References

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Copyright

Copyright © 2025 Jia M S , Ananya S, Yuvaraju T. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.